Welcome to Podcast Portal: a spontaneous column that will highlight podcasts of all genres that are lesser known or new shows that are worth giving a listen. With the medium continuing to grow, it is hard to acknowledge all of them. However, I am going to try and find as many noteworthy titles as possible to share and hopefully expand your mind to the greatest growing medium out there. If you have any podcast that you feel is worth adding to the Podcast Portal, please make sure to inform me whether through the comments or through an e-mail (information in sidebar).
SHOW: Increment Vice
HOSTS: Travis Woods
NETWORK: One Heat Minute
HOSTS: Travis Woods
NETWORK: One Heat Minute
EPISODE BEING DISCUSSED: "EPISODE #1: 'She came along the alley and up the back stairs the w...'"
The podcasting world has produced a handful of trends that seem undeniable. In the world of cinema shows, the "minute" podcast has become almost essential for every cult film. Who can forget The Star Wars Minute, or more recently One Heat Minute that sought to break down every minute of the Michael Mann film Heat? It came with a career-making performance by its host Blake Howard, who has since made his own podcast network off of the show. It also inspired him to invite Bright Wall/Dark Room contributor Travis Woods to finally share his love for the Paul Thomas Anderson film Inherent Vice with the world. Howard loves the film, too, but Woods may be the biggest obsessive. He's said to have seen it in theaters six times and consider it one of the best movies "of any century."
To hear Woods discuss his love for the film in the first episode is to see what a true obsessive sounds like. He hasn't just watched and enjoyed it, he has understood the film on a granular level. He was able to explore in a minute-long scene a variety of themes that included tying Inherent Vice to Joan Didion, Quentin Tarantino, and the death of the 1960s. He believes that the film's title is a reference to how everything that could happen will happen. This includes the death of an era, specifically the hippie one. He wonders how people who refuse to move on live in that headspace for the rest of their lives, feeling a certain regret or desperation in the process.
It's definitely a geek show at its finest. Anderson's filmography as a whole has been renowned by generations, and his 2010's output alone is among his most acclaimed. This stoner comedy comes with the distinct honor of being Thomas Pynchon's sole cinematic adaptation, and Woods explores how the book and film differ, specifically in how it uses homage and comedy. For a film that seemingly has nothing going on, it definitely is saying a lot about how these characters live. The opening monologue by Joanna Newsom is enough to give Woods and guest Howard room to explore a variety of themes that will develop in the episodes to come. It's sweet and endearing in all of the right ways, and will hopefully enhance the film by the end.
The one suggestion made at the start of the show is that Increment Vice isn't going to be One Heat Minute 2.0. It's likely going to be more based around the exploration of a scene, which is most likely going to be longer in the near future. Its launch date was inspired by the film's neo-noir tone and the general rule that November is referenced as Noirvember. It's the perfect film to explore this month, likely only second to something like The Long Goodbye. Still, one has to wonder what Woods will discover by exploring the film with fans and first-timers alike (he promises that not every guest will love the film). Will there be a deeper understanding of the film, or will it just be spinning wheels? As the fun end credits narration parodying Newsom (done by Kat Corbett) suggests, it's not guaranteed. Still, if anyone would find the answer, it's Woods.
Increment Vice may exist as another novelty movie discussion show, but there have been few films this decade quite like Inherent Vice. It's got a great comedic ensemble and a dark undertone throughout the entire film. There's likely deeper meaning and reason to deconstruct all of the Thomas Pynchon subtexts. It is going to be quite a journey and thankfully the first episode suggests just how much Woods wants to make this a worthwhile journey. It's going to be fun, provided it's as good and influential as One Heat Minute's other work. Only time will tell, but it's inherent so far that it will end positively.
OVERALL RATING: 4.5 out of 5
WORTH A SECOND GO?: If you love the film and want to hear obsessives discuss the film in detail, I don't see why not. It's a fun show with plenty of trivia and personal insight that expands the understanding of the film and adds levity to seemingly nonsensical scenes. Also, stay tuned for the John Brolin love, which promises to be aplenty.
The podcasting world has produced a handful of trends that seem undeniable. In the world of cinema shows, the "minute" podcast has become almost essential for every cult film. Who can forget The Star Wars Minute, or more recently One Heat Minute that sought to break down every minute of the Michael Mann film Heat? It came with a career-making performance by its host Blake Howard, who has since made his own podcast network off of the show. It also inspired him to invite Bright Wall/Dark Room contributor Travis Woods to finally share his love for the Paul Thomas Anderson film Inherent Vice with the world. Howard loves the film, too, but Woods may be the biggest obsessive. He's said to have seen it in theaters six times and consider it one of the best movies "of any century."
To hear Woods discuss his love for the film in the first episode is to see what a true obsessive sounds like. He hasn't just watched and enjoyed it, he has understood the film on a granular level. He was able to explore in a minute-long scene a variety of themes that included tying Inherent Vice to Joan Didion, Quentin Tarantino, and the death of the 1960s. He believes that the film's title is a reference to how everything that could happen will happen. This includes the death of an era, specifically the hippie one. He wonders how people who refuse to move on live in that headspace for the rest of their lives, feeling a certain regret or desperation in the process.
It's definitely a geek show at its finest. Anderson's filmography as a whole has been renowned by generations, and his 2010's output alone is among his most acclaimed. This stoner comedy comes with the distinct honor of being Thomas Pynchon's sole cinematic adaptation, and Woods explores how the book and film differ, specifically in how it uses homage and comedy. For a film that seemingly has nothing going on, it definitely is saying a lot about how these characters live. The opening monologue by Joanna Newsom is enough to give Woods and guest Howard room to explore a variety of themes that will develop in the episodes to come. It's sweet and endearing in all of the right ways, and will hopefully enhance the film by the end.
The one suggestion made at the start of the show is that Increment Vice isn't going to be One Heat Minute 2.0. It's likely going to be more based around the exploration of a scene, which is most likely going to be longer in the near future. Its launch date was inspired by the film's neo-noir tone and the general rule that November is referenced as Noirvember. It's the perfect film to explore this month, likely only second to something like The Long Goodbye. Still, one has to wonder what Woods will discover by exploring the film with fans and first-timers alike (he promises that not every guest will love the film). Will there be a deeper understanding of the film, or will it just be spinning wheels? As the fun end credits narration parodying Newsom (done by Kat Corbett) suggests, it's not guaranteed. Still, if anyone would find the answer, it's Woods.
Increment Vice may exist as another novelty movie discussion show, but there have been few films this decade quite like Inherent Vice. It's got a great comedic ensemble and a dark undertone throughout the entire film. There's likely deeper meaning and reason to deconstruct all of the Thomas Pynchon subtexts. It is going to be quite a journey and thankfully the first episode suggests just how much Woods wants to make this a worthwhile journey. It's going to be fun, provided it's as good and influential as One Heat Minute's other work. Only time will tell, but it's inherent so far that it will end positively.
OVERALL RATING: 4.5 out of 5
WORTH A SECOND GO?: If you love the film and want to hear obsessives discuss the film in detail, I don't see why not. It's a fun show with plenty of trivia and personal insight that expands the understanding of the film and adds levity to seemingly nonsensical scenes. Also, stay tuned for the John Brolin love, which promises to be aplenty.
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