SPACE BRAINS PODCAST
EPISODES: 91 TO 101
EPISODE 91
In Time is a 2011 American science fiction action film written, directed and produced by Andrew Niccol. Amanda Seyfried and Justin Timberlake star as inhabitants of a society which uses time from one’s lifespan as its primary currency, with each individual possessing a clock on their arm that counts down how long they have to live. Cillian Murphy, Vincent Kartheiser, Olivia Wilde, Matt Bomer, Johnny Galecki, and Alex Pettyfer also star.
The Space Brains dig deep into what it means to have time, money and how Niccol has used colour and pacing to provoke these philosophical thoughts. Science-wise we discuss a 2016 study that demonstrated the link between income and life expectancy. Hint: it’s good to be rich.
EPISODE 92
Boss Level is a 2020 American science fiction action film directed by Joe Carnahan and written by Carnahan and Chris and Eddie Borey, from a story by the Boreys. It stars Frank Grillo as a retired special forces soldier who tries to escape a never-ending time loop that results in his death. Mel Gibson, Naomi Watts and Michelle Yeoh co-star.
The Space Brains talk about how the traditional beats of a 3 act structure are so easy to see in this film and yet take unexpected turns. We also look at the concept of gamification and its use in motivation and habituation.
EPISODE 93
Children of Men is a 2006 dystopian action thriller film co-written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón. The screenplay, based on P. D. James’ 1992 novel The Children of Men, was credited to five writers, with Clive Owen making uncredited contributions. The film takes place in 2027, when two decades of human infertility have left society on the brink of collapse. Asylum seekers seek sanctuary in the United Kingdom, where they are subjected to detention and refoulement by the government. Owen plays civil servant Theo Faron, who must help refugee Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) escape the chaos. Children of Men also stars Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Pam Ferris, Charlie Hunnam, and Michael Caine.
The Space Brains talk about long shots, dystopia and the joy of children. We also talk about fertility rates and the future of human population.
EPISODE 94
Radius is a 2017 Canadian science fiction thriller film directed and written by Caroline Labrèche and Steeve Léonard. It stars Diego Klattenhoff, Charlotte Sullivan, and Brett Donahue. Klattenhoff and Sullivan play two survivors of a car accident who discover that one causes the death of anyone who comes within a certain radius of him, and the other has the ability to nullify this effect.
EPISODE 95
About Time is a 2013 British-American film written and directed by Richard Curtis, and starring Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, and Bill Nighy. The film is about a young man with the ability to time travel who tries to change his past in hopes of improving his future.
The Space Brains talk about genre blending, subversion of expectation and dig into the science of happiness.
EPISODE 96
Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a 1988 American science fiction horror comedy film written, directed and produced by the Chiodo Brothers, and starring Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, John Allen Nelson and John Vernon. It is the only movie written and directed by the Chiodo Brothers, who also created the practical effects and makeup. It concerns a clan of evil extraterrestrials who resemble clowns. They arrive on Earth and invade a small town in order to capture, kill and harvest the human inhabitants to use as sustenance.
In this episode the Space Brains discuss soundtracks, komedy and klowns. Plus a deep dive into the science of humour.
EPISODE 97
Jung_E (Korean: 정이), is a 2023 South Korean science fiction film written and directed by Yeon Sang-ho, starring Kang Soo-yeon, Kim Hyun-joo and Ryu Kyung-soo. The film features the final film appearance of Kang Soo-yeon who died ahead of its release. It premiered on January 20, 2023 on Netflix.
In this episode we explore the exciting ideas we Western viewers can be exposed to by watching foreign sci-fi. We talk about budgets and special effects and the looming horror of lethal automated weapon systems.
EPISODE 98
The Quiet Earth is a 1985 New Zealand post-apocalyptic science fiction film directed by Geoff Murphy and starring Bruno Lawrence, Alison Routledge and Peter Smith as three survivors of a cataclysmic disaster. It is loosely based on the 1981 science fiction novel of the same name by Craig Harrison.
We explore the importance of an opening image and closing image, the world without people and some ways in which New Zealand and Australian films portray tense encounters.
In science we ask the question: How long would it take for the Earth to go feral without humans?
EPISODE 99
Everything Everywhere All at Once is a 2022 American absurdist comedy-drama film written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, who produced it with Anthony and Joe Russo and Jonathan Wang. Michelle Yeoh stars as Evelyn Quan Wang, a Chinese-American immigrant who, while being audited by the IRS, discovers that she must connect with parallel universe versions of herself to prevent a powerful being from destroying the multiverse. The film also stars Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., and James Hong in supporting roles.
We discuss the film triangle and how that relates to audience size, AI generation and the massive success that is Everything Everywhere All At Once. For our science dip, we look at the possibility of sausage fingered humans.
EPISODE 100
The Fly is a 1986 American science fiction horror film directed and co-written by David Cronenberg. Produced by Brooksfilms and distributed by 20th Century Fox, the film stars Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis and John Getz. Loosely based on George Langelaan’s 1957 short story of the same name and the 1958 film of the same name, The Fly tells of an eccentric scientist who, after one of his experiments goes wrong, slowly turns into a fly-hybrid creature. The score was composed by Howard Shore and the make-up effects were created by Chris Walas, along with makeup artist Stephan Dupuis.
In this episode we examine the classic film’s use of foreshadowing and the build up of tension. On a science note, we look at real world quantum teleportation and quantum tunneling which is sure to blow your mind.
EPISODE 101
Nope is a 2022 American neo-Western science fiction horror film written, directed, and produced by Jordan Peele, under his and Ian Cooper’s Monkeypaw Productions banner. It stars Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer as horse-wrangling siblings attempting to capture evidence of an unidentified flying object. Appearing in supporting roles are Steven Yeun, Michael Wincott, Brandon Perea, and Keith David.
Nope is a film about confronting “the beast” and our illusion of control and mastery. We discuss how Jordan mixed genres to highlight his message and how animals, humans included, are only ever a hairs-bredth from wild, unpredictable behaviour.