Inside Cinema Shorts - Episodes 71 to 80

"Look at the phenomenon of of techno-orientalism" says Zing Tsjeng as he introduces Episode 71 Hollywood's Eastern Futures. This is where sci fi movies are influenced by Japan, China and Korea. From  downtown Tokyo in Blade Runner (1982) to Serenity (2005), Ghost in the Shell (2017) that caused major controversy in Asia, and Ex-Machina (2014). I should have known we would see The Matrix (1999) (groan).

Jan Asante shows us how Boss Ladies in Episode 72 are the "defiant, complex women of the work-place comedy drama". From Working Girl (1988) to The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and Late Night (2019). We even see Judy Dench as M in Golden Eye (1995). And lots of others I didn't know.

From high school movies to rom coms, Episode 73 is The Gay Best Friend narrated by James Victoria Luxford. We see clips from films such as My Best Friend's Wedding (1997 and the superior Crazy Rich Asians (2018). But there are a lot of terrible movies, only to be saved by the brilliant actors Simon Callow and John Hannah in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). 

Winona Rider gets her very own piece by Rachel Pronger in Episode 74's Winona, Interrupted. This is about how the 1980's and 90's were good for her before " a fall from grace and a captivating comeback. A fairly predictable run through of those films when she was young. From Heathers (1988) to Little Women (1994) and then that jump forward to films like Black Swan (2010).

Episode 75 is Welcome to Jackass by Charles Bramesco. Oh dear no.

I wanted to know what Episode 76 The B Word was about. Catherine Bray explains it's B for Bisexual. But is the B word ever mentioned in a movie or do we have to work it out for ourselves? From Stanley Kubrick's 1960 Spartacus (???) to Blue Velvet (1986) and lots more. Including The Wizard of Oz (1939) ????? 

Thank goodness I'm on more familiar ground with Jasper Sharp's Episode 77 Akira 

Kurosawa. Jasper tells us that he is "the one Japanese director who is a household name internationally". We start with Rashomon (1950) to Seven Samurai (1954) : how many future Hollywood movies did this inspire. Lots were shot totally on location. We see excerpts where there is an amazing use of the weather, especially heavy downpours and wind. Two other films: Throne of Blood (1957) and Ran (1985) were both inspired by Shakespeare plays, the first Macbeth and the other King Lear. Jasper is in awe of one scene in Ran and the burning castle where Hidetora makes his exit. All on YouTube.

What is Michael J Fox doing in a photograph that introduces Episode 78 Dinner Tables? Well, do you remember that scene when he has gone back in time and there is a family dinner? Jacob Stolworthy says these are "delicious movie moments". We see so many. We even get Hannibal Lector, and 1979's Alien. Not to mention The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and Citizen Kane (1941). Funnily enough the scene at the dinner table in Boyhood (2014) was surprisingly excellent. From Shadow of a Doubt (1943) to Get Out (2017) and lots more.

Who can forget Alice Lowe in Prevenge (2016). Leila Latif gives her pride of place with extended clips in Episode 79 Pregnant Cinema. Of course we see Rosemary's Baby (1968), Juno (2007) (hurrah), Fargo (1996) (double hurrah for the extended clips), A Quiet Place (2018) and Tully (2018) both excellent.

No guesses for who we see in Episode 80 Cary Grant. Charlotte Crofts tells us he was born Archibald Leach. We see clips from some of his early films: Blonde Venus (1932), Sylvia Scarlett (1935), The Awful Truth (1937), Bringing up Baby and Holiday (both 1938) and Only Angels have Wings (1939). Before those more famous modern films which are all so familiar.