Listen to episode 173 right here or find us at the best podcast places.
These week, join us for a discussion about The Joker with philosophy prof Vern Cisney, and so much more.
We’re taking the winter off to recharge, and The Agency will be back at you in early spring. There are 172 other episodes up for you to enjoy in the meantime.
As we announced a couple episodes ago, The Agency Podcast is going to take a hiatus after the program we’re recording tomorrow, which will be episode 173. Think of it as an end of season break. We’ll be featuring a special guest on tomorrow’s episode, by-the-way, so fans of The Agency will want to tune in for this one for sure.
We haven’t had any kind of significant break since we started this project. The Agency is a home-made podcast. We don’t have staff, producers, writers, no technical crew, editors, nada. Candy Minx and I have done our best to provide interesting conversation for our listeners each week, figuring it out as we went along. Lately, we’ve been feeling it’s time to take a break. Our slightly vague plan is to take the winter off and come back refreshed and renewed in early spring. To be sure, during the hiatus, we’ll be considering how to make the Agency even better when we return in 2023. One of the things we’ve considered is to change the frequency a bit – perhaps try bi-weekly or monthly to give us a bit more time to plan, organize and generate content. Does that work for you?
One of the things I plan to do during the break is to record some new music for the podcast. We may make other changes as well. We just don’t know what those are yet. If you’re a listener, let me know what you think. We value your ideas and input. We’ve even talked about bringing in additional agents to add new voices to the program (is that you?….if you think it is, let’s talk).
I think this is a good time to thank all our listeners, who have stuck with us through all these episodes and our amazing Patreon supporters who have helped pay the bills. I’d also like to thank our array of fantastic guests who have spiced up the podcast along the way. If you’re a new listener, keep in mind there are many back episodes to listen to while we’re on hiatus as well as one more new episode we plan to publish some time tomorrow.
Daniel Carwile and friends performimg Sally Johnson
Melissa Carper…
Candy Minx challenged me to make a movie list. I love movies, but I’ve never been a fan of “best of” lists. Who am I to say what’s best? There are so many films and there is so much variety. What I can do is try to assemble a list of films which at this point in my life, resonate with me in some kind of special way. Some might be movies that haunt me. Some might trigger a memory. Some may have been loads of fun. Today’s list may not be tomorrow’s list. Some films which I would like to include won’t be included because they have simply slipped my mind. Others may be important to me for some kind of personal reason, but may not be so important to others. There will be glaring omissions, lots of them.
I don’t know how long my list will be. I do know it won’t be in any particular order – I don’t mean to suggest the first films on the list are the best. I’ll add some brief notes about the films along the way. Please enjoy the list and feel free to add to it in the comments.
Anatomy of a Murder
Jimmy Stewart is fabulous in this adaptation of one of my fave books by lawyer and fly fisherman Robert Traver. His real name was John D. Voelker, a lawyer once appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court. He also wrote a book of stories about fly fishing called Trout Madness, which I adore. The fabulous score for Anatomy of a Murder was done by Duke Ellington. Anatomy of a Murder is my favourite courtroom drama ever.
Repo Man
There’s an alien in the trunk of a Chevy Malibu. A very strange and strangely entertaining film.
Cape Fear
I love both versions, the 1962 Noir with Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck and Scorsese’s remake 29 years later with the incredible performance by Robert de Niro with Nick Nolte and a fab supporting cast. Watch them both in one day!
Videodrome
It’s not that I loved this oddball Cronenberg film; it’s that it is so memorable.
First Cow
First Cow is the last film we went out to see before the pandemic closed down the theatres. Director Kelly Reichart has made a beautiful film about friendship and America.
Boudu Saved From Drowning
1932. Joy and anarchy by Jean Renoir
A River Runs Through It
This lovely 1992 adaptation of the Norman Maclean story sparked renewed interest in fly fishing and in that community became known simply as The Movie.
Five Easy Pieces
My fave Jack Nicholson movie
Eyes Wide Shut
Kubrick’s last masterpiece
The Treasure of Sierra Madre
Badges?
Dr. Strangelove
How could a Kubrick black comedy about the Cold War not be great?
Down By Law
A prison break buddy film by Jim Jarmusch.
The Terminator
This one has become part of our DNA, hasn’t it?
Amy
A heartbreaking documentary about Amy Winehouse. The star-maker machinery at work, crushing the young singer.
Crash
Cronenberg explores the eroticism around danger, the lure of the car crash. OK this is a weird film, strangely compelling.
Night of the Hunter
If there is a defining film in the Noir genre, it’s this one. Robert Mitchum is outstanding and the lighting is almost a character in itself
Parasite
Bong June Ho’s 2019 masterpiece about class warfare.
The Decline of the American Empire
A Canadian film from Denys Arcand
The Maltese Falcon
John Huston took this Dashiell Hammett story and made a perfect film.
Don’t Look Back
Pennebaker’s Bob Dylan doc.
Babette’s Feast
Foodie Heaven
The Commitments
Fab 1999 Irish R&B movie based on the Roddy Doyle novel. Delightful.
The American Friend
This 1977 film was Wim Wenders’ take on the Patricia Highsmith novel, Ripley’s Game. The best and weirdest of the Ripley movies. Dennis Hopper and Bruno Ganz.
To Have and Have Not
Bogart and Bacall do Hemingway and do it up right in this Howard Hawks classic.
Round Midnight
Dexter Gordon is so good in this film about an alcoholic jazzman in Paris.
310 to Yuma
Set yourself up with a pizza and some cold beer and watch both versions.
Best in Show
Directed by Christopher Guest with Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara and the wonderful Fred Willard.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Jamie Lee Curtis with hot dog fingers and so much more.
The Grapes of Wrath
Henry Fonda leads a great cast in this 1940 adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel. OK, this one is perfect.
There Will Be Blood
An American tale
Jaws
Let’s go swimming. Such a lovely beach.
Mad Max: Fury Road
A crazy beautiful race after the apocalypse. Breathtaking!
A Touch of Evil
Orson Welles, Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh. Made in 1958, this masterwork was Welles’ last Hollywood film.
Blade Runner
Is it the best scifi film ever? You know it is.
School of Rock
Stick it to the man, Jack!
Die Hard
Bruce Willis at his best in everyone’s fave Christmas movie.
All the President’s Men
Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman. Everything is right in this outstanding film about journalism and politics. Oh, and it’s all true.
The Silence of the Lambs
Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. Scary.
The Matrix
Oh no, I forget which pill is which.
Fight Club
Ed Norton and Brad Pitt, directed by David Fincher. Over the top and brilliant every second of the way.
The Blues Brothers
Appearances by James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn, and Matt Guitar Murphy elevate this super-fun film.
The French Connection
Gritty and exciting and it’s got Gene Hackman!
The Conversation
Gene Hackman may be my favourite actor. Watch this one and you’ll see why.
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Sergio Leone’s masterpiece “spaghetti western” is helped tremendously by the brilliant score from Ennio Morricone
Office Space
If you’ve ever worked in the Hell that is a cubicle farm, this film by Mike Judge will resonate with you.
Pulp Fiction
Flawed, but still….
Big Fish
This film reduces me to tears because Albert Finney reminds me of my dad.
The King of Comedy
A twisted look at celebrity worship from Scorcese. Robert de Nero, Sandra Bernhard and yes, Jerry Lewis, all shine.
The Godfather
I mean 1 and 2. Epic.
Trainspotting
Directed by Danny Boyle. Funny. Horrible. Fabulous.
Goodfellas
The perfect gangster flick.
Seven Samurai
I love this Kurosawa epic ode to the resilience of the human spirit. Take an afternoon and watch it together with the Americanized version, The Magnificent Seven.
North by Northwest
Stylized and cheesy, and Hitchcock at his best.
Rear Window
I could watch this one two or three times in a row. It’s just a bonus that Raymond Burr is the villain.
Train to Busan presents: Penninsula
This is the sequel to the Korean zombie flick, Train to Busan, and it’s even better, if that is possible. For zombie lovers everywhere.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
While it is true that Alec Guinness embodied the character of George Smiley perfectly, Gary Oldman does a stand-up job in this 2011 film. I love the grayness and the atmosphere in this take on the John Le Carre spy novel.
My Neighbor Totoro
Sure, it’s sentimental, but in a good way. If you can’t love that weirdo forest creature Totoro, you’re a mighty cold individual.
True Grit
I mean the 2010 remake, not the mediocre John Wayne flick. Watch this then read the Charles Portis novel while you’re at it.
The Bourne Identity
This one reminds me of Mad Max: Fury Road, in that it’s all about the chase. Forget about the sequels and just watch this one a couple times.
Das Boot
Who doesn’t love a good submarine film?
The Hunt for Red October
Another superb submarine film. I love the moment when they switch from Russian to English.
Fargo
Coen Brothers. Great cast, great script, great everything.
The Searchers
Is it the best Western ever made? Fight me.
The Wild Bunch
Um, is it the best Western every made?
The Outlaw Josie Wales
This one, featuring Clint Eastwood and John Vernon is not the best Western ever made…..but it’s up there.
The Hustler
It is THE pool shark grifter movie, and as a bonus it features Jackie Gleason. Gritty and gripping and sad.
Glengarry Glen Ross
Brilliant, hard to watch. Always be Closing. And Jack Lemmon.
The Boston Strangler
Henry Fonda with Tony Curtis in a dramatic role.
The Taking of Pelham 123
This is another case of 2 fab versions. The 2009 film by Tony Scott with Denzel Washington and John Travolta is the better of the two but don’t discount the 1974 Joseph Sargent film featuring Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw. This would make another great double-header.
*****
Yikes, I was trying to keep this list to about 20 but already I’m closing in on 70. My difficulty in making a smaller list lies in the fact that art is not a competition. There are just so many films that have captured my imagination in a big way. I know that as soon as I click publish I’ll remember a dozen films I neglected. Maybe I’ll need a second list down the road. This is just today’s list.
What films would you add? Which ones on my list would never make yours?
The Killer has checked out.
Listen to The Activist Cookbook right here or find it at all the best podcast places.
This week:
Listener mail
Celebrity bad behaviour
Armed and Hammered
The remake of Rebecca
Heist movies (and Eugene’s fave actor)
The Activist Cookbook
The Passenger
The Lost Daughter
….and much more
The ending music tag of this episode is from Drinkin’ Wine Spo-dee-o-dee by Stick McGhee, 1949
Thanks for listening.
Here’s Shawn Camp playing Sis Draper…(to the tune of Arkanasas Traveler). She’s a travelin’ Arkansawyer.
The Stew Pot will appear in this space from time to time with my $.02 on the issues of the day. Comments are welcome (I have thick skin).
A Coronation?
Our municipal election is Monday. Current Mayor John Tory is running again, against a pack of about 30 candidates. If there were potential candidates well-known to Torontonians, they’ve stayed away. Mr. Tory has huge name recognition in the City and he seems to be generally well-liked. It is unlikely any of the other candidates can beat him. One candidate has been getting some play in the media – and has been buying large newspaper ads – is Gil Penalosa. From his website:
His focus is on the design and use of parks, streets, sidewalks as great public places, as well as sustainable mobility: walking, riding bicycles, taking public transit, and new uses of cars. Gil highlights the benefits to public health, the environment, mobility, economic development. He wants, for instance, to build a walking path around the City. Mr. Penalosa has some interesting ideas. He may be too far to the left for mainstream voters, but I suspect he’ll get enough votes to get some attention.
I think Mr. Tory’s stability may have been a tonic for the City after the strange behaviour of the late Mayor Rob Ford. Tory has been a status quo guy, an administrator who hasn’t shown a strong vision for Toronto. To that end, I don’t think he’s been a terrible Mayor, but not a great one either. He’s had 2 terms, and that is plenty. Time for someone else to take over. Mr. Tory has endorsed the incumbent in our area for Council, Mark Grimes, saying “We need Mark Grimes back at City Hall”. Mr. Grimes has been Councillor in this area for close to 20 years. That is way too long. It is past time for some new blood and some new ideas. I’m supporting Amber Morley, who I think will make a fine Councillor. If John Tory can’t recognize we need some new blood in Council, perhaps that is because he too is over-staying his welcome.
Alberta
Have you heard the ads from the province of Alberta, inviting folks in Ontario to pack up the truck and move west? Well, Alberta is a beautiful place. I have some friends living there and they seem to like it. The fly fishing is fabulous. And Jason Kenney has left the scene. However, he has been replaced with Danielle Smith, who did in fact say that unvaccinated Canadians are the most discriminated group she’s witnessed in her lifetime. She’s also made some bizarre statements about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for which she apologized earlier this month. I wonder if her leadership will hurt their effort to woo Ontarians?
$100 MILLION
Listeners to The Agency Podcast know I’ve been following the chess drama around Hans Niemann and allegations of cheating. Well, Mr. Niemann is now suing World Champion Magnus Carlsen, Danny Rensch from Chess.com, Chess.com, Play Magnus and Grand Master Hikaru Nakamura, alleging they have ruined his life, cost him participation in tournaments and job opportunities, defamed and slandered him. Mr. Niemann statement of claim suggests he needs at least $100 Million to be made whole again.
I have no legal background. I did hear a lawyer on a podcast suggest it is a real lawsuit, not just a publicity play, but that it’s an uphill battle for Mr. Niemann to be successful with his suit. Maybe he’s right. I really don’t know. If Magnus Carlsen thought Niemann cheated against him in the Sinquefield Cup, he might have reported his thoughts and whatever evidence he might have had to the administrators. Instead of doing that he made what came across as a veiled accusation on Twitter and withdrew from the tournament. Does that mean he didn’t trust the administrators to deal with the issue effectively? For sure Magnus escalated the issue, and the streamers and social media people have been having a field day. Is Hans Niemann entitled to compensation?
All this leaves the chess madarins with a big problem. Technology exists that could facilitate cheating over-the-board in chess. Can the same anti-cheating measures used in the US Championships be done at a local level consistently? It seems that it is not too difficult to cheat online. What is the future of online tournaments? During the pandemic that was all there was. One thing sure, where there are humans, there are cheaters in the crowd.
This morning I met up with Miles Hearn’s nature walk group just down the street at Sam Smith Park. We’re so fortunate to live a short walk from such a fantastic place.
Today the footbridge at the west end of the park was closed as the cranes are here, removing the sailboats from the water for winter.
Lake waters continue to be low. In fact, the entire north half of the pond is dry.
We saw a Merlin today, a small hawk about the size of a pigeon.
27th Street 