#103 - "Knives Out" - Breaking Down Rian Johnson's Genius Twist of a "Whodunnit"
In this episode, we break down Knives Out and why it’s one of the smartest mystery movies in recent years. We dig into how Rian Johnson brilliantly subverts the classic whodunnit formula, hides the plot twist in plain sight, and uses structure to shift audience expectations. We also highlight the layers in the writing, the standout performances, and how Johnson’s script turns a familiar genre on its head without ever losing its suspense or charm.Chapters:00:00:00 Intro Convo: Why this movie is so good00:14:26 "It's what you do with the truth" is key to this story00:17:13 Perfectly depicting the family as bad people but real00:22:50 The opening scene is writing masterclass00:25:43 Rian Johnson's biggest change right before filming00:26:59 Back to: Why the opening scene is perfect00:30:46 Stories of why the characters were perfectly cast00:34:24 Returning to why the opening scene is perfect again00:38:27 What is was like on set filming with big stars for Rian Johnson00:39:34 What makes the script so phenomenal00:42:06 Benoit Blanc piano key explained00:44:46 What makes Benoit Blanc such a great character00:47:00 Chris Evans going back to his acting roots00:48:08 The beautiful details in this movie00:52:35 The theme of playing games00:55:40 How they made this movie look so beautiful00:58:18 Our official rating of Knives Out01:04:36 Final thoughts01:05:41 Cue the music
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1:06:50
#102 - "There Will Be Blood" - One of the Greatest Written /Performed Evil Characters of All Time
In this episode, we dive into There Will Be Blood and break down what makes it one of the greatest character studies in cinema. We analyze Daniel Plainview’s dark journey, the intense themes of ambition, greed, and isolation, and the masterful performances that drive the story. We also break down key scenes, the intentional camera work, and the eerie score that perfectly matches the film’s atmosphere. Plus, we explore how Paul Thomas Anderson’s storytelling makes this movie unforgettable.Chapters:00:00:00 Diving into the dark & complex character of Daniel00:08:23 Why Daniel abandon's HW00:11:32 Daniel's constant bold face lies00:14:39 The power in the moment Daniel finds out his brother's lie00:17:37 Why the opening scene is a perfect scene00:22:23 When Daniel's darkest belief is revealed00:33:15 Daniels false image of being a family man00:38:02 Another example of Daniel wanting to crush others00:41:28 Scene breakdowns where Daniel vs Eli is perfectly depicted00:47:32 Daniel Day-Lewis's method acting had to be uncomfortable on set00:49:07 This movie originally wasn't supposed to have twin brothers00:51:11 Daniel was the first one to baptize Eli00:57:13 The symbolism of Daniel going to hell when he's at his worst00:58:29 Daniel Day-Lewis absolutely owned this character01:03:00 The horror music in the opening and the score01:03:54 Why the ending is perfect for this story01:07:56 Our official ratings & review01:14:36 Talking the absurdity of the Oscar's & Sinner's praise01:18:04 Final thoughts: Our best Daniel impression01:23:09 Cue the music
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1:24:20
#101 - "Tombstone" - What Makes This The Most Iconic Western of All Time
In this episode, we saddle up and head back to the Wild West to break down Tombstone. We revisit the most iconic moments, dive deep into the legendary characters, and explore what makes this Western stand out. From Doc Holliday’s unforgettable lines to Wyatt Earp’s cold stare, we discuss how the performances—especially Val Kilmer’s—elevated the story. We also analyze the themes of justice, loyalty, and legacy, and why this film continues to resonate decades later.Chapters:00:00:00 Intro Convo: 00:01:21 Doc Holiday's final words explained00:03:01 Doc Holiday may be one of the greatest characters of all time00:04:12 Staying pure to the western genre00:09:03 Val Kilmer steals the show despite Kurt Russell's amazing performance00:10:48 Doc Holiday is actually a pretty bad guy00:12:16 Doc Holidays coolest moment you may have missed00:14:03 Kurt Russell's amazing moments00:15:45 How they perfectly introduce the characters00:17:02 How they get Wyatt Earp to be a complete badass00:19:58 Breaking down the latin standoff between Doc & Ringo00:28:17 Diving deep into Wyatt Earp's character00:34:41 Did you catch this inside joke the writer left for you00:40:31 The horror story of making this movie00:43:53 Val Kilmer got absolutely snubbed00:45:44 Wyatt Earp's character arc00:48:00 The real tombstone town00:49:40 The best scene: Doc Holiday vs Johnny Ringo00:51:41 Our official rating of Tombstone00:55:37 The Wyatt Earp vs Tombstone debate00:59:11 Final thoughts: Gun flip01:00:50 Cue the music
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1:01:59
#100 - "Django Unchained" - How Tarantino Created the Perfect Movie
In this episode, we dive deep into Django Unchained and explore what makes it one of Quentin Tarantino’s most iconic films. We break down the characters and their motivations—from Django’s revenge-driven arc to Dr. Schultz’s moral compass and Calvin Candie’s twisted charm. We analyze the brilliant camera work that enhances tension and emotion, and unpack the bold storytelling, unforgettable moments, and everything we love about the movie.Chapters:00:00:00 Intro Convo: 100th episode celebration00:04:29 Movie Breakdown Starts: Tarantino's creative character names00:07:53 How to perfectly hook an audience from the jump00:10:51 Samuel L Jackson's brilliantly written character00:15:07 Calvin Candie's real reason for being in the movie00:18:15 Shultz's misunderstanding of American slavery00:21:49 Dr.Shultz's character arc and death explained00:30:01 The backlash00:33:52 The pure brutality Tarantino puts you through00:38:24 Proof Tarantino has the most fun making a movie00:43:21 The KKK scene 00:48:45 The absurd amount of money they were making00:50:51 Diving deeper into Stephen00:54:56 Leonardo DiCaprio struggled being this evil00:58:46 Christoph Walz didn't want to be in this movie01:00:43 Tarantino spazzing on Jamie Foxx01:03:27 Breaking down some of the best camera work01:21:02 Our ratings: The NEW rating system (do it with us)01:28:36 Final thoughts: A cool metaphor01:35:17 Cue the music
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1:36:28
#099 - "War Dogs" - A Perfect Balance of Comedy & Drama
In this episode, we break down War Dogs—a wild ride based on a true story. We dive into the real-life events that inspired the film, analyzing how the story was adapted for the big screen. We also highlight the clever use of comedy that elevates the tension and enhances the narrative. Plus, we explore the film’s great cinematography and how Todd Phillips crafted a unique tone that balances humor and intensity.Chapters:00:00:00 Intro Convo00:01:08 The true story behind this insanity00:07:49 Why the characters make this story so insane00:15:05 How this movie uses comedy to tell the story00:18:46 Why Jonah Hill HAD to be in this movie00:22:09 More on how the comedy tells a story00:24:25 A funny scene they removed from the script00:25:58 The honest writing of Effraim’s character00:28:01 Miles Teller is also perfect for this story00:30:21 A story about Todd Phillips on set of Project X00:32:12 Why the night vision scene is perfect00:35:06 Todd Phillips and Adam McKay have similar careers00:36:54 Jonah Hill had plenty of experience to play Effraim00:38:58 This is exactly what you want out of a movie00:41:11 The great filmmaking techniques this movie uses00:48:13 How the real life Effraim tried to sue Warner Brothers00:49:41 How Jonah Hill found Effraim’s laugh00:50:57 A cool metaphor of the war at this time00:55:17 A surprising cut from the script00:59:20 Our ratings01:04:07 Final thoughts: Gray's Race Recap01:08:24 Cue the music
Just dudes that make movies, breaking down movies, live on a podcast. If you enjoy great movies, sh*t-talk, and film breakdowns you've come to the right place.
The CRWN Cinema Podcast is a movie analysis podcast hosted by Kade Harvey and Gray Pittman with guest stars Mercedes Harvey and Scott Jordan. They watch & discuss classic movies to talk about the film techniques used, give interesting insights, and just have a cinematic hang.
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