Whalefall and What's Making Us Happy
Summary
Stephen Thompson and guest Rihanna Cruz discuss the new film Whale Fall, praising its technical execution and Austin Abrams' performance while debating its script's tonal shifts. They compare the movie’s spiritual climax to Avatar: The Way of Water and highlight its effective sound design and practical effects. The episode concludes with a "What's Making Us Happy" segment, where they recommend Josephine Reisman's book on Beck and Gwennifer Raymond's new song, "Bird Songs for Atomic Skies."
Topics discussed
Sponsors: REI and NPR+
Introduction to the movie Whale Fall
Review: Technical elements and tone
Discussion of Austin Abrams' performance
Script analysis: Interiority and flashbacks
Third act emotional shift and Avatar comparisons
Confinement horror mechanics and practical effects
Final verdicts and sound design highlights
Sponsors: Dell, ADT, and AT&T
What's Making Us Happy: Beck biography
What's Making Us Happy: Gwennifer Raymond
Credits and Sponsor: Schwab
Sponsor: A24 You Can See Everything
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