Film Maker / Film Watcher
by Richard Di Gregorio & Greg Ralph
Two friends talk about films old and new (but mostly old). Richard Di Gregorio is an award-winning filmmaker who also happens to watch films. Greg Ralph is a film watcher who also happens to...well, watch films. Together they are a couple of guys who love the movies. This podcast invites you to share that love and go back to favourite films - or those you never got round to seeing (like them).
Episodes
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Episode 85: FM/FW Mini: Halloween Special
Our minisodes are usually reserved for new release movies seen on the big screen. This time it’s different as we do our first retrospective minisode, just in time for Halloween! Richard watches a 1988 ghost story as a way of easing Greg into the Halloween Movie tradition — a gentle entry point…
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Episode 84: FM/FW Mini E10: Coyote vs. Acme
It's Richard's birthday! To celebrate, he and Greg take a popcorn-filled trip into childhood nostalgia to see the new Looney Tunes movie. This film has been stuck in Tax Write-off Hell for the last three years – but now it's out. This raises a couple of questions: "Was it worth the wait?" and "Is...
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Episode 83: FM/FW Mini E09: The Odyssey
In the past, many of our minisodes have been for Sequel movies. And you could argue that this is the same – for what is The Odyssey but a sequel to the Trojan War? Richard and Greg don their battle armour and venture into their beloved Astor Theatre in search of answers. Is Christopher Nolan's...
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Episode 82: Christmas Special 2025
CHRISTMAS #11. Richard and Greg resume their annual quest for a movie that brings the Christmas Feels. Despite disappointing past candidates, they review films from the last three-quarters of a century to find a Christmas miracle. Greg again brings in something to celebrate the Spirit of…
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Episode 81: FM/FW Mini E08: The Naked Gun
In yet another franchise revival, Liam Neeson steps into the clown shoes of Leslie Nielsen. Can it be just a coincidence that the two actors have the same initials? This is just one of the many issues that Richard and Greg fail to discuss in their review – along with the missed opportunity of...
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Episode 80: FM/FW Mini E07: The Fantastic Four – First Steps
Last week, Richard and Greg went to see the new Superman film – heralded as a return to glory for the DC Universe movies. Now we review the equivalent saviour for the Marvel Cinema Universe. How did DC-fanboy Greg and Richard go? Was the film Fantastic – or is Four a crowd? Fantastic Four –…
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Episode 79: FM/FW Mini E06: Superman
Greg is a complete Superman fanboy. So it’s no surprise that he gets Richard to review the new foundation for James Gunn’s DC Movie Universe. (Not that Richard needed much persuading...) But how did this latest Superman go — is he Kryptonite for Gunn’s plans, or is he “up-up-and-away” in the…
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Episode 78: FM/FW Mini E05: Sinners
This is our first-ever minisode for a movie that is NOT a sequel. Richard thought that he was dragging Greg into a Horror film, but it turns out that he was dragging himself into a Musical. While it may not be the first-ever Vampire Musical (that was possibly “Buffy” S06 E07), it’s undoubtedly a...
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Episode 77: S05 E10: Cinematic Wheel of Fortune
Richard and Greg join their partners Niniane and Naomi to discuss films chosen by the aforementioned Wheel. Who agrees with whom? And, more interestingly, who doesn’t?? Season 5 ends with the quartet celebrating an Australian comedy classic that has become both beloved and iconic – to which our...
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Episode 76: S05 E09: Let's Get Italian!
In this episode, we move from Greg’s comfort zone (whodunnits) to Richard’s (Italian pronunciation). Our reviewers discuss three Italian films that made it in the English-speaking world. Two made it to the Oscars, and all have something to say about “la condizione umana”. And then, in preparation...
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Episode 75: S05 E08: Whodunnits of Interest
Greg takes Richard into classic Agatha Christie territory with a French director’s Hollywood take on a British novel. After examining the British class system, they finish with a largely forgotten whodunnit film written by Psycho actor Anthony Perkins and West Side Story composer Stephen…
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Episode 74: S05 E07: Millennial Shakespeare
Richard and Greg review three Shakespearean films made either side of the year 2000. Shakespeare is known for raising the Big Questions – and this episode is no exception. Which of our podcasters is the worse at trying to sound Shakespearean? Are they better or worse than American actors at this?...
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Episode 73: Christmas Special 2024
We don’t know about you, but Richard is flabbered and Greg is gasted that this is our Tenth Christmas Episode! As usual, they review three Christmas films in search of that special seasonal something. Two films are liked more by one reviewer than the other – whereas the third is universally found...
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Episode 72: S05 E06: Sleeping with Leonard
Richard and Greg grew up admiring one US and three Australian movie reviewers. Back in 2019, US-based Leonard Maltin was asked by “The Movies That Made me” podcast to pick movies from each decade of the past century that he wished were better known. Richard and Greg dare to pick up Maltin’s…
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Episode 71: S05 E05: Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Richard and Greg choose a film for three modes of transport (somehow forgetting about the 1987 Steve Martin / John Candy film). Although the films are scattered across the 20th Century, our reviewers find that all stand up well to the test of time – suggesting that this episode should have been...
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Episode 70: FM/FW Mini E04: Gladiator 2
Quo Vadis? To see the new Gladiator film! They may not have swords or togas, but Richard and Greg make the pilgrimage to a newish Melbourne cinema to see an ancient-ish Roman story. What did they think? Is it thumbs-up or thumbs-down? (And if it’s thumbs-down, does director Ridley Scott get…
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Episode 69: S05 E04: Bad Films Ain't The Only Hollywood Crimes
Our reviewers take on three crime films set in Hollywood across the latter half of the 20th Century. Greg admits to watching his first-ever Tarantino film. If that’s not crime enough, Richard corners him into summarising the plot of David Lynch’s mystifying “Mulholland Drive”. But Greg triumphs…
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Episode 68: S05 E03: Kiwi Films
Richard and Greg jump across the local “pond” from Australia to review three New Zealand films from world-renowned directors Lee Tamahori, Peter Jackson and Taika Waititi. While they have similar responses to two of these films, our film reviewers are (South?) poles apart for the third. Not to...
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Episode 67: S05 E02: And Then There Were Nuns
AND THEN THERE WERE NUNS. Richard and Greg “get the movie habit” by inviting a professional nun (Auntie Marie) to discuss Nun Films. She shares her joys and deeper reflections for a comedy and then a drama. But, like the Holy Trinity, we always do things in threes. For her final choice (a…
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Episode 66: FM/FW Mini E03: Joker – Folie à Deux
Following Broadway and TV precedents, DC Comics has just released its first musical feature film. But it might not be the best idea for DC Fanboy Greg to see the new Joker film with the not-terribly-comical Richard… Are they inspired to sing along with Lady Gaga? Will Greg take the opportunity to...
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Episode 65: S05 E01: The Firsts
Our podcasters are back. Finally. But this seasonal opener is about firsts, not finals (despite the third film’s title). Richard and Greg review three feature films that were the first in their day to use the latest technology – for sound, vision and movement. But how do these films stand up…
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Episode 64: FM/FW Mini E02: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
How appropriate that our second minisode has a double-barrelled name! Tim Burton’s sequel has been 36 years in the making – but is it worth the wait? Our dedicated film reviewers get down to the local cinema to find out. Not wanting to invite disaster, Greg works hard to stop Richard from saying...
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Episode 63: FM/FW Mini E01: Deadpool & Wolverine
Not every premiere happens in Hollywood. So roll out the red carpet along your hallway (or a red bath towel across your passenger seat) as we launch a new venture for our podcast. Minisodes! Richard and Greg review the newly-released, cameo-filled blockbuster that is the third Deadpool film, then...
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Episode 62: Christmas Special 2023
Holy Kris Kringle! Can it be that our dynamic duo of Richard and Greg find the Christmas Feels in a new round of movies? Will they declare “Batman Returns” a Christmas movie? Just what exactly is at the heart of the mysterious Christmas parcel? And is there really a “rapidly approaching Season…
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Episode 61: Christmas Special 2022
It’s been a long break between episodes – a whole Christmas cycle in fact. Following tradition, Richard and Greg get their reviewing skates on with three Christmas movies, as a lead-in to our rapidly approaching Season 5. Are they rusty? Are the films Christmassy enough for Greg? And has he…
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Episode 60: Christmas Special 2021
Season 4 has been bookended by THREE Christmas episodes – so “seasonal” greetings are in order. Richard and Greg keep with tradition and review three Christmas films – including a musical about a Christmas zombie invasion (which is just SO in keeping with the spirit of the last year). But what...
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Episode 59: S04 E10: Back To Quarantine
Melbourne has gone from the world’s most livable city to the most locked-down – and our Season 4 has stretched across this period. Way back in “the early days”, we held a Friday Quarantine Film Night festival to restore the shared film-watching experience to our audience. Now that we’re (finally!...
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Episode 58: S04 E09: Ticket To Ride
Our reviewers seek lockdown escapism through films based on Disneyland rides, despite the fact that one of them has never been on these rides. But they sidestep the obvious choice – as Richard was born on “Talk Like a Pirate Day” (and needs no encouragement to perform) and Greg’s afraid of...
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Episode 57: S04 E08: Ghostly
Richard and Greg leave the Confessional to push deeper into the spiritual realm. They sample three ghostly films across different genres (horror, comedy, and existential exploration). Of course, one reviewer’s “existential exploration” can be another’s snoozefest. The abiding philosophical…
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Episode 56: S04 E07: Greg In The Confessional
It’s Greg’s turn in the FMFW Confessional and there are significant gaps in his Film Watching CV. Although he makes an interesting myth diagnosis of “Pretty Woman”, our first two films are but pitstops on the way to the Big Question – has Richard’s beloved “Rocky” improved Greg’s opinion of...
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Episode 55: S04 E06: Ricardo In The Confessional
Here at the FMFW Podcast, we like to play a little game – are there well-known films that our reviewers “confess” to not yet seeing? This episode, Richard steps into the FMFW Confessional. Will his sins of omission be original (or merely venial)? More importantly, will Greg ever forgive Richard…
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Episode 54: S04 E05: I Need A Good Laugh
Pandemic Lockdown sucks – so Richard and Greg decide they need a good laugh. Each chooses a sure-thing comedy (previously unseen by the other) to give them that lift. And then they both watch a Marx Brothers film for the first time. Does it work? Does a bear do stand-up in the woods? Duck Soup...
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Episode 53: S04 E04: A Fistful Of Oscars
Only three films have ever won the “Big 5” Oscars: Actor, Actress, Screenplay, Director and Film. And this is where we’d usually tell you their titles (with links). But let’s keep a sense of mystery this time and reveal them as we go. We’ll tell you now that they’re from the Thirties, Seventies…
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Episode 52: S04 E03: Our Three Sons
In the spirit of “Bring Your Child To Work Day”, our podcasters ask Sebastian, Cass and Théo to each choose a film and then review it with their Dads. The Sons display their inner geek – and Richard and Greg learn that their legacy is in safe hands. Three sons, three movies: it couldn’t have been...
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Episode 51: S04 E02: Turn Back & Face The Music
Richard and Greg finally get round to reviewing three musicals mentioned way back in Season 1 – all musicals about people who are themselves creating musical experiences. On two of these films, they’re highly aligned. But one film leaves Greg apologising for trampling all over Richard’s dreams.…
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Episode 50: S04 E01: Bad Movies
Melbourne has been in pandemic lockdown. So Richard and Greg record their first distanced podcast (socially, not emotionally). They start this series by reviewing three films that regularly appear on Bad Movie lists. Can their scores rival their lowest yet – half a point for “Showgirls” in Series...
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Christmas Special 2020
Can it be Christmas again already? Richard and Greg have been in Pandemic Lockdown throughout 2020, working at a safe distance from each other (if such a thing exists) to develop Season 4. Ironically, now that they’re allowed out again, they stay home to watch two Christmas Classics with ardent...
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Episode 48: FMFW Season 4 Announcement!
Not so much a Christmas message, more of a cross-promotion (which sounds more Easterish than Christmassy). Greg stops by to tell you about our Season 4 AND another podcast that Richard has been working on this year. You’ll find “Killing Phar Lap: A Forensic Investigation” on Apple Podcasts,...
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Friday Quarantine Film Night - Xmas in July
Welcome to our final episode of the Friday Quarantine Film Night! We decided to get all festive to celebrate. We start with “Lila” – a charming 9-minute Spanish/Argentinian film with which we have a personal connection. You’ll find it at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-11-short And then we have the 1946...
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Friday Quarantine Film Night - Session 10
This week we’re watching local films. “Rebooted” is a 13-minute Australian short made last year. It’s a loving tribute to the stop-motion animation of Ray Harryhausen. You’ll find it at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-10-short As a companion piece, we recommend a 2-minute excerpt of Harryhausen’s work on...
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Friday Quarantine Film Night - Session 9
We’re staying in to watch Kids’ films this week, regardless of your age. We begin with the 7½-minute French short “Jubilé” about how the Queen is helped by a corgi and a guardsman. You’ll find it at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-09-short Our US feature film is called “Shorts” from the director of both...
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Friday Quarantine Film Night - Session 8
It’s Westerns Week! Our short film this week is a 9-minute US comedy from 2014. You’ll find “The Gunfighter” at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-08-short Then our feature film provides a different spin on the genre. It’s the 2015 Australian film “The Dressmaker”. You’ll find its IMDB profile at...
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Friday Quarantine Film Night - Session 7
Our short film this week is “Future Boyfriend”. It’s a 10½-minute US film made in 2016 that you’ll find at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-07-short Our feature film is a US documentary that we discussed in Series 2. “Stories We Tell” was made in 2012 and is an exemplar of the form. You’ll find its IMDB...
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Friday Quarantine Film Night - Session 6
Our short film this week was made in Richard and Greg’s home city, Melbourne. “Signs” (2008) is 12½ minutes long – and you’ll find it at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-06-short After this romantic introduction, our feature film is the 2013 Scottish musical “Sunshine on Leith” based on the songs of The...
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Friday Quarantine Film Night - Session 5
We have two animated shorts for you from the same director in 2012. They are “FriendSheep” (7 minutes) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-05-short01 and “The Smoke Seller” (6½ minutes) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-05-short02 Our feature film is the 2014 NZ horror-comedy “What We Do in the Shadows”. You’ll find…
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Friday Quarantine Film Night - Session 4
This week’s Friday Quarantine films are: Negative Space (5½ minutes, 2017) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-04-short Departures (2008 Japanese film) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-04-film The Departures link takes you to SBS streaming in Australia. You can also rent or buy this film via iTunes, Google Play or...
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Friday Quarantine Film Night - Session 3
This week’s Friday Quarantine films are: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (15 minutes, 2017) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-03-short Steamboat Bill, Jr. (Buster Keaton) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-03-film Both of these films are on YouTube. You’ll see that they also have something else in...
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Friday Quarantine Film Night - Session 2
This week’s Friday Quarantine films are: Alternative Math (9 minutes, 2017) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-02-short Heartbreaker (French, 2010) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-02-film The Heartbreaker link takes you to SBS streaming in Australia. You can also rent or buy this film via iTunes, Google Play or...
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Friday Quarantine Film Night - Session 1
We’re trying something new in this age of lockdowns and social distancing. Introducing “Friday Quarantine Film Night” for the shared experience of watching films with others, even though we’re apart in time and space. We’ll nominate both a short and a feature film for you to watch this Friday…
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Christmas Special 2019
And we’re back! Just in time to celebrate the festive season by reviewing Christmas movies, familiar and strange. As a special seasonal bonus, Richard and Greg also present a New Year’s treat – so you get three films for the (non) price of four. This episode comes with a Christmas wish from us to...
About this show
Two friends talk about films old and new (but mostly old). Richard Di Gregorio is an award-winning filmmaker who also happens to watch films. Greg Ralph is a film watcher who also happens to...well, watch films. Together they are a couple of guys who love the movies. This podcast invites you to share that love and go back to favourite films - or those you never got round to seeing (like them).
Hosted by
Richard Di Gregorio & Greg Ralph