Racking Focus Podcast

16/07/2023

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08/04/2022

“Everything Everywhere All At Once” (2022)⠀
🎬 Director: Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert
🎥 DP: Larkin Seiple
🎨 PD: Jason Kisvarday

This film just opened in wide release! If you’re going to the theater this year, this is the movie to see! We talk often about supporting independent filmmakers telling completely unique stories and this is far and away one of the most unique original films we’ve ever witnessed. It’s a wild ride, hilarious, and heartfelt. GO SEE IT!

05/04/2022

“Truck Turner” (1974)⠀
🎬 Director: Jonathan Kaplan
🎥 DP: Charles F. Wheeler & Michael Kahn

Blaxploitation at it wildest. Scenery Chewing performances by Nichelle Nicholes, Alan Weeks and Yaphet Kotto highlight this rollercoaster of action and adventures. A mix of mundane and inspired direction litter the screen. This cult classic has a magnificent score.

10/03/2022

Polytechnique (2009)
🎬 Director: Denis Villeneuve
🎥 DP: Pierre Gill
🎨 PD: Roger Martin

I love watching early work by great directors and this film, about a mass shooting in Canada, does not disappoint. Time and perspective bending, deeply intimate, shockingly violent and yet fully respect for the victims, Denis Villeneuve uses tools we see in his more current work to incredible effect.

07/03/2022

Our full podcast review is coming tomorrow! Get ready for The Batman! But if you want to hear a little bit of our thoughts now, keep on reading.

- you’ve done it again. Of the many films we’ve seen in the last year, two of them have stood above the rest in regards to cinematography. The Batman and Dune. The Batman is hands down the most visually striking Batman film ever, let alone one of the most gorgeous films out there. The use of red is spellbinding, and you’ve somehow made this film reminiscent of the Batman: Animated Series without it looking or feeling like a cartoon. Of course, hats off to for creating gritty set pieces and a Gotham that feels so utterly chaotic and disgusting that it makes you question ‘why the hell would anyone live there?’ It’s dark, it’s grounded, it’s intense and The Batman has never been better. Well done on what you’ve created and brought to the silver screen and for pulling together an insanely talented cast and crew that helped create the Batman film we’ve always wanted.

22/02/2022

“Hot Fuzz” (2007)⠀
🎬 Director:
🎥 DP: Jess Hall
🎨 PD: Marcus Rowland

Happy Twosday! Of course, we are sharing some screengrabs from what is possibly the best of the Three Flavour Cornetto trilogy. Edgar Wright both parodies and creates a brilliant buddy cop comedy that pays it’s respects to the films that come before it and both pokes fun at them at the same time while proving that what he’s making fun of actually works.

17/02/2022

“Cronos” (1993)⠀
🎬 Director: Guillermo del Toro
🎥 DP: Guillermo Navarro
🎨 PD: Tolita Figuero
Full of all the things we expect from a DelToro film, Cronos is a well paced horror film that capitalises on the pathos of its story. DelToro reimagines the vampire genre with all of the blood and beauty of the human spirit that he imbues into his later films.
Amazing performances populate this rough edged film.

13/02/2022

“Nightmare Alley” (1947)⠀
🎬 Director: Edmund Goulding
🎥 DP: Lee Garmes
🎨 PD: J Russell Spencer
Tyrone Power acting against type leads a strong cast in the carnival noir. Thoughtfully adapted and full of complexity, the tragic tale captures the economy and culture of its time.

07/02/2022

“No Way Out” (1950)⠀
🎬 Director: Joseph Mankiewicz
🎥 DP: Milton Krasner

One of the bravest treatments of race and racism in cinema and we chat about it in our next episode of the pod.

28/12/2021

All 5 of our recap episodes from season 2 of will be live by Wednesday. First 3 episodes are live now anywhere you get your podcasts!

What did you think of season 2? We’d love to know your thoughts, what you liked or disliked, and if you have any questions, so let us know in the comments below or leave us a voice message at the link in our bio.

27/12/2021

“The Green Knight” (2021)⠀
🎬 Director: David Lowery
🎥 DP: Andrew Droz Palermo
🎨 PD: Jade Healy

This is a beautiful film. The use of light, shot framing, camera movement and in frame aspect ration alteration shot a cleverness and aesthetic brilliance that Lowkey does not shy away feom. Slowly paced and episodic with an opaque thematis presentation, the film is not for everyone. The film needs to be rewatched and analyzed. The acting is strong, metaphors overwhelming and production design and costume impeccable.

25/12/2021

It’s been a week since we saw : No Way Home and it has us very excited for the MCU moving forward. Catch our entire conversation anywhere you get your podcasts and let us know what you thought of the film!

24/12/2021

“Casablanca” (1942)⠀
🎬 Director: Michael Curtiz
🎥 DP: Arthur Edeson
🎨 PD: Carl Julee Weyl

One of the best. Hands down.

17/12/2021

Our review of Eternals is live anywhere you can get your podcasts. Go listen to find out all the things we loved and some of the stuff we didn’t.

17/12/2021

“Dune” (2021)⠀
🎬 Director: Denis Villeneuve
🎥 DP:
🎨 PD: Patrice Vermette

Not sure how pulled off these images. Either he’s a magician or he sold his soul, but this is hands down one of the most beautifully shot films we’ve ever witnessed. A true spectacle worthy of IMAX. Can’t recommend Dune enough and all the talent and hard work put into this masterpiece shows.

17/12/2021

Catching up on posting some episodes here. Our review of No Time To Die has been live for a couple weeks. What a way to end Craig’s tenure as 007. Listen to our thoughts on this film anywhere you get your podcasts.

13/12/2021

“Die Hard” (1988)⠀
🎬 Director: John McTiernan
🎥 DP: Jan de Bont
🎨 PD: Jackson De Govia

The big question: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Yes or no? Let us know in the comments below.

27/10/2021

Yesterday, our review of went live and Part 2 was officially green lit! Denis Villenueve’s adaptation of Dune is the perfect reason to go to the theater. If you can get to IMAX, even better. We were in awe of the visuals as we felt dwarfed by the scale of the landscapes and ships appearing on screen. Seeing this in theaters will immerse you in the world of Dune. It’s huge. It’s epic. And deserves a massive screen. Go see it before it leaves theaters, and then you can watch it a second time on HBO Max.

26/10/2021

“Catch Me If You Can” (2002)⠀
🎬 Director: Steven Spielberg
🎥 DP: Janusz Kaminski
🎨 PD: Jeannine Oppewall

One of Spielberg’s best adding to his incredible body of work. The dynamic shot choices, to the low key lighting, clever blocking, and tight editing are all used to their maximum potential to create a film that is thrilling and intimate all at once. DiCaprio & Hanks have great chemistry that sometimes we wish we could keep watching this game of Cat & Mouse continue.

What do you think of Catch Me If You Can? And what is your favorite work from Spielberg?

17/09/2021

New Episode is Live- Shang Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings…. Go See It!!! Then listen!

14/09/2021

“24 City” (2008)⠀
🎬 Director: Jian Zhangke
🎥 DP: Nelson Yu Lik-wai and Wang Yu
🎨 PD: Liu Qiang

This cross between documentary and fiction composed by one of the greatest cinematic eyes working today, exposes the trauma of several generations of Chinese workers as their factory, once their social hub, is replaced by luxury apartments. Beautiful to watch with heartbreaking interviews and monologues, 24 City is a masterwork.

23/08/2021

Our reviews and reflections of Episode 2 of WHAT IF from Marvel is live wherever you get your podcasts. What if T’Challa was a Star Lord?

21/08/2021

“Sicario” (2015)⠀
🎬 Director: Denis Villeneuve
🎥 DP: Roger Deakins
🎨 PD: Patrice Vermette

Denis Villeneuve is one of the best directors working today. Every single picture I’ve had the pleasure of viewing from his has been outstanding. This is no different. Sicario is a near flawless movie that leaves you wanting even more. The characters are engaging and the performances are great, the cinematography is unreal (duh. It’s Deakins), the editing is perfect and the score under all of it will keep you worrying about our characters until the very end as we follow our protagonist on a journey where she has to struggle with her own ethics and realizes that sometimes the rules need to be broken.

19/08/2021

What do you get when Disney wants to revitalize one of their most beloved rides at their parks with the help of The Rock? Two hours of scenes and characterizations from many other successful franchises to assure that the movie works.... but it doesn't really. John, Josiah and Steph spend a few ill paced hours riding up the Amazon toward adventure and a new design for the Jungle Cruise ride at Disneyworld. Catch our review anywhere you get your podcasts and let us know in the comments what you thought of Jungle Cruise.

18/08/2021

Leon: The Professional (1994)
🎬 Director: Luc Besson
🎥 DP: Thierry Arbogast
🎨 PD: Dan Weil

Fresh. Well acted. Charming at times and violent at others. Young Portman can act her ass off, and her interactions with Jean Reno are lovely, and Oldman is magnificent in the most over-the-top way. This is a divisive film and Besson has a way of making you feel uncomfortable surrounding Mathilda and her coming of age, but dare we say, Besson has some deeper things to say through all of it… or maybe not. Regardless, it’s on our list as a must-see.

16/08/2021

This week we dive into the first episode of What If... featuring Captain Carter as the First Avenger. We're very excited about this series and the potential it brings for future stories in both animated form and live action in the MCU. Hear our thoughts and theories on this episode anywhere you get your podcasts! Spoilers ahead as well!

16/08/2021

Across 110th Street (1972)⠀
🎬 Director: Barry Shear
🎥 DP: Jack Priestly
🎨 PD: Perry Watkins

Amazing performances by Yaphat Kotto, Anthony Quinn, Anthony Franciosa, and Richard Ward help elevate this well written and well directed Blaxploitation film to a classic filled with relevant issues of race and class. As big as some performances are, there is subtly and complexity in every frame.

11/08/2021

Newest episode featuring is live anywhere you get your podcasts. What did you think of movie? Let us know in the comments!

10/08/2021

In the Mood for Love (2000)⠀
🎬 Director: Wong Kar Wai
🎥 DP: Christopher Doyle & Ping Bin Lee
🎨 PD: William Chang

Full of ache and longing, In the Mood for Love washed the screen with startlingly beautiful images, rich in color and structure. The script, performed with expert subtlety by many of Wong Kar Wai’s regular troupe, blends subtext and tension in a clever dramatic vehicle which constantly surprises.

04/08/2021

Newest episode of the podcast is live! We had the pleasure of viewing on the big screen at and now need to see it again at least 3 more times to soak in all of the material created.

We recommend seeing this piece of cinema in theaters because you’ll be supporting auteurs, and experiencing the epic visuals and sound in the best way possible.

⚠️ Warning that it is slow paced, but it is truly a work of art.