Jaws: The Birth of the Summer Blockbuster & the History of Creature Features
In honor of its 50th anniversary, Jaws emerges from the depths of the cinematic sea to remind us why it remains the archetype of the summer blockbuster, forever shaping our fear of the ocean and giving sharks a bad rep. Join Laura Gommans and Tom Ooms as they dissect Spielberg’s masterstroke, from its thrilling mechanics to the happy accidents that made it an instant classic.This episode also explores the evolution of creature features, tracing how this genre once thrived on tangible, terrifying creatures—and why such films are rarely made the same way today. Get tickets to Jaws @ LAB111Get tickets to CC Film Club: Charlie's Angels @ LAB111
--------
43:45
--------
43:45
Why Everyone is Talking About Weapons and Sorry, Baby
Back from a summer hiatus, Laura Gommans and Elliot Bloom reunite to trade notes on the hot new releases. Zach Cregger’s hotly anticipated Weapons has horror fans buzzing—though for producer Elliot, he can only manage to watch it through his fingers. They also dive into Sorry, Baby, Eva Victor’s quietly devastating debut, a tender comedy-drama about how life insists on moving forward no matter what.Get your tickets to Weapons @ LAB111Get your tickets to Sorry, Baby @ LAB111
--------
29:49
--------
29:49
Morgan Knibbe on The Garden of Earthly Delights and the Silence Around It
In this episode, Kiriko sits down with Dutch filmmaker Morgan Knibbe to discuss his blistering debut fictional feature The Garden of Earthly Delights—a formally audacious, emotionally harrowing portrait of the post-colonial legacy in the Philippines. Through a fictional lens, Knibbe confronts the ongoing violence of Western capitalism, power, and desire, exposing the devastating asymmetry between those who are seen and those who are never heard.But why has a film this urgent and unflinching been met with near silence? Kiriko and Morgan explore the limits of representation, the discomfort of telling hard truths, and the price artists pay for making the invisible visible.
--------
34:42
--------
34:42
Plein Soleil and the Art of the Summer Movie
This week on Review Roundup, host Laura Gommans and Elliot Bloom head south for the summer with a sun-drenched revisit of Plein Soleil—René Clément’s slow-burning 1960 thriller that introduced the world to a dangerously magnetic Alain Delon, as we dip our toes into the Mr. Ripley universe.Alongside Clément’s shimmering noir, they spotlight more scorchers from LAB111’s Heatwave program—including Aftersun, The Parent Trap, and Do the Right Thing—to explore what keeps us coming back to summer cinema: the heat, the heartbreak, and the haze of memory...or just a good old AC system.Get tickets to Heatwave: Sweaty Summer Cinema program @ LAB111Get tickets to Kingdoms of Rain: The Films of Akira Kurosawa @ LAB111
--------
26:06
--------
26:06
What Akira Kurosawa Taught Us About Movies—and Morality
This week, Elliot and Kiriko dive into the legendary world of Akira Kurosawa—Japan’s master filmmaker and, let’s be honest, probably your favorite director’s favorite director. From samurai epics like Seven Samurai and Rashomon to powerful character dramas like Ikiru and High and Low, Kurosawa knew how to tell a story that hits you in the heart and keeps you on the edge of your seat.They unpack the big questions his films tackle—truth, justice, mortality—and connect the dots between Kurosawa’s personal life and the unforgettable worlds he brought to the screen. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just Kurosawa-curious, this episode is a love letter to one of cinema’s all-time greats—and a reminder that great storytelling never goes out of style.Get tickets to The Films of Kurosawa @ LAB111
A podcast for the love of cinema!
For more info check out our website: https://celebratingcinema.com.
As always, we want to hear from you so please get in touch at [email protected]
México