The gloves are off for our biggest episode in podcast history.

In this nearly two-hour mega-debate, we are pitting two of the greatest crime epics ever made against each other for a single, coveted spot on the Greatest Watchlist of All Time: Curtis Hanson’s L.A. Confidential (1997) versus Martin Scorsese’s The Departed (2006).

We don't just scratch the surface; we dive deep into the classic films, gritty histories, and legendary photography that inspired these masterpieces. We break down how Robert Frank’s seminal photography book "The Americans" directly shaped the visual DNA and cynical tone of 1950s Los Angeles in L.A. Confidential. Then, we head across the Atlantic to explore how Andrzej Wajda’s 1958 Polish masterpiece "Ashes and Diamonds" heavily influenced Scorsese's tragic, guilt-ridden framing of Boston's criminal underworld.

Inside the Episode:

• The Global Legacy of The Departed: We trace the film's roots back to the legendary Hong Kong cinematic triumph Infernal Affairs, and look at the fascinating web of international remakes that followed it.
• The Duality of Hollywood: A deep-dive character study of Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) and how his character perfectly embodies the glamorous, corrupt, and tragic duality of mid-century Los Angeles.
• Hero or Assassin? A heated, no-holds-barred clash over Staff Sergeant Sean Dignam (Mark Wahlberg). Is he the only true hero left standing, or just another compromised cop turned cold-blooded assassin?
• The Final Verdict: Stick around until the very end for one of the most shocking, fiercely debated, and unexpected outcomes in the history of our show.

Which movie deserves immortality on the Greatest Watchlist? Grab a drink, settle in, and let us know who you think won in the comments.

an Up Left Media Production

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are putting two titans of the underworld head-to-head in the ultimate battle of the spooky, kooky, and macabre. Which classic gothic comedy reigns supreme, and which one is taking a permanent spot on the greatest watchlist of all time?

First, we break down the cinematic DNA of Beetlejuice. We trace how Tim Burton’s masterpiece connects to the dark fantasy worlds of Guillermo del Toro, the whimsical afterlife of Casper, and the pitch-black comedy of Death Becomes Her. We also look at the career-defining performances from Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, and Winona Ryder, while uncovering a few hidden details about the story that we completely missed when we were kids.

Next, we pivot to map out The Addams Family lineage. We go all the way back to Charles Addams' original New Yorker cartoons, analyzing how the sharp lines and dramatic shadows of German Expressionism directly influenced this family—and how that blueprint paved the way for modern animation hits like Hotel Transylvania and the Despicable Me franchise. Plus, we celebrate the absolute gold standard of movie couples—Gomez and Morticia—and the unmatched on-screen chemistry between Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston.

Stick around until the end because we point out something incredibly strange about the young Alford boy that you won't be able to unsee. Finally, the gloves come off as we make our final judgments and select the movie that earns its place in The Essential Cut.

an Up Left Media Production

upleftmedia.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two masterpieces of modern neo-noir cinema. Two unhinged loners stalking the neon-lit streets of Los Angeles. In this episode of The Essential Cut, we are pitting Nicolas Winding Refn’s synth-drenched Drive (2011) against Dan Gilroy’s pitch-black thriller Nightcrawler (2014) to decide which film secures its permanent spot in cinema history.

First up, we break down the immaculate aesthetic of Drive. From the iconic Kavinsky synthwave soundtrack to the satin scorpion jacket, we analyze how style becomes substance. We also ask the tough question: Is Ryan Gosling’s near-silent performance as "The Driver" a masterclass in stoicism, or does it cross the line into a forced affect? Plus, we trace the movie's cinematic DNA back to classic neo-noirs like Le Samourai and Thief, stretching all the way forward to Blade Runner 2049.

Then, we shift gears into the high-speed highway hunting grounds of Nightcrawler. We dissect Jake Gyllenhaal’s horrifyingly brilliant performance as Lou Bloom—a literal coyote scavenging for human carrion on the LA 101. Is Lou Bloom a freak anomaly, or is he the ultimate product of a broken capitalist society? We dive into the dark satire of a world where a local scrapyard won't buy his stolen copper, but corporate local news is thrilled to buy his gruesome crime scene footage.

Which of these LA crime thrillers reigns supreme? Hit play to find out who makes The Essential Cut.

an Up Left Media Production

upleftmedia.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.