A podcast from my home sweet home of Chicago, but will I like it, that’s the real question!
The Gist
As I said above, Double Feature is based out of Chicago, one of only two film related podcasts I know of that originate from my home metropolitan area. A pair of hosts, Eric Ingrum and Michael Koester, take on two films a week and review them, they’ve been doing this for three years now. There is usually some sort of theme that tie the two films together, but the premise behind the podcast is that simple, two films reviewed in each, about forty five minute long, episode.
Episodes Listened To
#Unknown: Harry Brown + Children Of Men
#Unknown: Mary And Max + The Killing
#Unknown: Year 3 Finale
My Thoughts
I know I’m beginning to sound repetitive, but at first I really dug Double Feature. I loved the variety of the movies they tackled, this is a podcast that has no problem reviewing art house films right alongside schlock horror. That type of openness to all the world of film has to offer is very refreshing in a podcast universe where most shows are only interested in one particular type of film- mainstream, art house, horror, etc.. The episodes of Double Feature are pretty short and to the point, I greatly respected that fact. I love deep discussion of film, but I love it even more when someone knows how to get to the point, say what they want to say, and move on. These and a few other things caused me to outright love Double Feature from the onset of when I started listening to them, but that love affair was not meant to last.
I started to get a queasy feeling in my stomach about Double Feature around ten episodes into my listening adventure. Beneath the high production values, the directness of their points and the nice variety of films covered some of the facets of the show began to niggle at me. First and foremost the attitude displayed by the hosts became a giant barrier to my enjoyment of the show. I noticed their tendency to insert their political and ideological beliefs into every film they reviewed. In a general sense this doesn’t bother me, movies are filtered through our experiences, but I don’t need a review to suddenly alter itself into a lecture about someone’s political beliefs or religious ideologies. Too often this happens in Double Feature, and it became quite grating and annoying to deal with on a weekly basis once I started paying attention to it.
Another tipping point against Double Feature’s favor was their dismissive attitudes towards the beliefs of others. On more than one occasion they would outright dismiss anyone who could possibly think differently than they did about a film. Different opinions are great, they make the world of film operate. Dismissing other opinions does not make the film world operate, it causes the film world to turn into a flaming wreck of insularity. A reviewer doesn’t need to agree with other opinions, but dismissing them out of hand and in a condescending attitude does not go over well with me. The general attitude of the hosts lends itself towards pretentiousness, a term I don’t like to use much at all. Just because they discuss more cult films does not mean they aren’t pretentious and stuffy in the way they present themselves.
I know that a lot of people have a problem with the language that inhabits Double Feature. The cussing provided by both hosts is excessive, but it doesn’t bother me like it does others. A minor point that does bother me occurred during the Year 3 Finale. The other Chicago based film podcast I know of is Filmspotting. I have my own issues with Filmspotting, I’m not a fan of the podcast, but there is a time and a place for bashing someone you have a problem with. It doesn’t make your podcast look good to take shots at another podcast during your own. Maybe this is common in the podcast world, but I haven’t come across it outside of Double Feature. Call me a kill joy if you want, but I prefer for my podcasts to take the high road and leave such pettiness behind closed doors.
I didn’t realize I would write such inflammatory words about Double Feature. It’s a podcast that has a lot of potential. I’m happy I gave it a shot and I wish I could have found more to like. I’m telling my readers to unsubscribe from Double Feature, I don’t want you guys to suffer through politicizing when all you’re looking for is movie talk. There are a few other podcasts out there that have a nice variety and openness to them, give those a try instead of Double Feature.
The Bottom Line
Unsubscribe
Cheers,
Bill
