Episode 262 – SAVING PRIVATE RYAN

Runtime 85 minutes Show Contents 0:00 Introduction 3:11 Know Your Enemy with Guest Simon Columb 24:46 The New Slang: SAVING PRIVATE RYAN 1:05:46 The Other Side: Simon and Ryan talk further reading after Steven Spielberg’s film Thoughts From Your Host… I’d love to tell you that I had always intended to mark Memorial Day by discussing a war epic – the reality of it is that the timing is all just a happy accident. That said, to any American listeners honouring someone they know who sacrificed their life, my thoughts are with you today. My thoughts are also on the year ahead in my own life. One’s 43rd birthday (tomorrow, in case you were curious) isn’t usually the sort of thing one pulls out many stops for. It’s not a new decade or even a nice clean number like a five. For me though, it promises to be a year of great changes and opportunity. Those are things I haven’t had presented to me for quite some time. It’s exciting…it’s nerve-wracking…it’s a lot to absorb. All the same, I’m also thinking about how lucky I am to be saying such things and anticipating such things. Life is precious and unpredictable. There are so many out there who haven’t been half as lucky as I have – many who I’ve known, many who I’ve cared for. I owe it to them to make the very best of 43, just as I owe it to all of the wonderful people who have helped get me to where I am. I guess what I’m saying is that I am indebted – an apt thought to be on my mind in the wake of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. So, while a real barnburner of a celebration must wait until 44 when things are a little safer, I’m thankful for many blessings I can still count on for 43 – including my wonderful family, my supportive friends, and you kind readers and listeners. #sweeptheleaves Links Mentioned on Episode 262: As mentioned off the top of the show, this “favourite film” episode now marks all four of my favourite films on Letterboxd being discussed here on The Matineecast. If you’re curious to check out the other three, here’s ALMOST FAMOUS with Rebecca Sharp, THE APARTMENT with Jess Rogers, and OUT OF SIGHT with Andrew Robinson. Roger Ebert’s Zero-Star review of THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE Simon’s Twitter feed can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening. Enjoy!