When audiences attend a children’s film, they don’t expect much: a few laughs, some sort of adventure, and perhaps a moral or two tucked in to give the adults something to discuss with the kids. Generally, expectations are pretty low…. Read More ›
Publications
Listen: The Cine-Men, Oscars 2019
The Oscars are coming up, so of course Darryl and I have opinions on the nominees. Over the course of six mini-episodes, the two of us dig into Best Supporting Actor/Actress, Lead Actor/Actress, Director, and Best Picture. As each new… Read More ›
Director Peter Jackson’s “They Shall Not Grow Old” brings the past to life like nothing before it.
Roughly four years ago, the Imperial War Museum began working with director Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) to develop a documentary focused on World War I. His only directives: make it fresh and original. As a self-professed… Read More ›
Listen: The Cine-Men, Episode 12
With the 2019 Oscars coming up, The Cine-Men (Darryl Mansel and Douglas Davidson) explore a department of cinema which is constantly overlooked when handing out awards: stunts. In this episode, they not only discuss their latest watches and The Cine-Men… Read More ›
Listen: The Cine-Men, Episode 11
2018 was a great year for cinema. So great, in fact, that narrowing down all the wonderful films to a list of five is harder than you’d imagine. But The Cine-Men took on that challenge in their first show in 2019… Read More ›
Listen: Episode 34 of Monster Mashup Marketing
EoM founder Douglas Davidson appears as a guest on the Monster Mashup Marketing podcast hosted by Matt Starnes to discuss the history of Elements of Madness. So if you’ve read the About EoM page and ever wanted to dig a little… Read More ›
If you’ve been craving a family-friendly “Deadpool”, you certainly get your wish.
For the uninitiated, Deadpool is a comic book character unlike any other. It’s not that he’s indestructible thanks to a mutant healing factor or that he’s a highly trained assassin, it’s that he knows he’s in a comic book. Having… Read More ›
Listen: The Cine-Men, Episode 9
For the last show in 2018, hosts Darryl Mansel and Douglas Davidson dig into a topic that’s easy for some, harder for others: if you could watch any film you’ve seen as if it were the first time, which would… Read More ›
Thoughtful dramedy “Asher” offers a killer time.
There’s something intriguing about good assassin films. These stories have been used as fodder for buddy comedies (The Hitman’s Bodyguard), romantic comedies (Grosse Pointe Blank), coming of age stories (Leon: The Professional), revenge thrillers (John Wick), or just straight up… Read More ›
Listen: The Cine-Men, Episode 8
No matter what holiday you celebrate, November through December offers a bevy of films to scratch that holiday itch. But what about the movies that take place during the holidays, but have almost nothing to do with them? Hosts Darryl… Read More ›
“Creed II” embraces the past to blaze a new trail forward.
Whether you’re a fan of The Sweet Science or not, the name Rocky Balboa (portrayed by Sylvester Stallone) is likely the first name that springs to mind in any discussion of boxing. The 1976 drama Rocky first introduced audiences to… Read More ›
Listen: The Cine-Men, Episode 7
After an extended absence that we’ll blame on prepping for the upcoming Primer episode, hosts Seed and Douglas catch up on the films they’ve seen during the break, have a civil discussion of their opposing views regarding the latest Cine-Men Challenge,… Read More ›
Foster and Fanning bring “Galveston” to life.
More often than not, the best stories are the ones that take risks, that play with convention, and defy expectations. Other times, the risks fail to pay off and leave the audience with a diminishing sense of fulfillment. So rarely… Read More ›
Listen: The Cine-Men, Episode 6
In this slightly longer than normal episode, hosts Douglas Davidson and Darryl Mansel discuss their latest watches – First Man, A Star Is Born, Venom, Bad Times at the El Royale, Galveston, Camp Manna – take a detour into the DCEU, and dig into their… Read More ›
More than a remake, “A Star Is Born” sings its own tune.
At a key moment in A Star Is Born, Bobby Maine (Sam Elliott) says that “music is essentially 12 notes between any octave.” He explains that music is a cycle of repetition every musician, every storyteller, utilizes over and over,… Read More ›
Jennifer Garner’s back in action with “Peppermint”.
There’s something deeply cathartic about a well-made revenge flick. Watching the mayhem unfold on screen while the hero pursues victory like an unrelenting Valkyrie, dispatching adversaries with dogged determination until they all lie broken and defeated at their feet. These… Read More ›
Listen: The Cine-Men, Episode 5
Hosts Douglas Davidson and Darryl Mansel return to dig into their favorite opening scenes in cinema, as well as also provide a few Oscar updates, give you the lowdown on a few films to keep your eye out for in… Read More ›
“We the Animals” explores family dynamics through the perspective of a child.
In a cinematic landscape filled with large, loud options, sometimes it’s the quietest ones that make the boldest impact. Such is the case with director Jeremiah Zagar’s We the Animals, an adaptation of Justin Torres’s 2011 award-winning novel of the… Read More ›
Go with a smile: “The Happytime Murders”.
If you were asked to name the first Muppet to pop into your head, the answer would inevitably be tied to your introductory experience. If you named Big Bird or Kermit, you likely know how to get to Sesame Street…. Read More ›
Listen: The Cine-Men, Episode 4
The latest podcast to enter the Poprika Podcast Network is The Cine-Men, hosted by Poprika founder Seed and EoM founder Douglas Davidson. The aim of the show is to discuss the films we’ve seen and those we haven’t in all the… Read More ›