Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode are offering their subscribers the chance to watch a series of classic and not-so-classic films along with them, with the launch of their new series of commentary podcasts.
Kermode and Mayo’s Take subscribers will be able to sync up a streaming version of the film with their podcast player of choice and listen along with the duo, enjoying the double act in an entirely new way, in real time, with Mark’s customary insights into the craft of film, and Simon Mayo’s eye-rolling cynicism.
The series starts with a “watchalong” commentary on Adam Sandler in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2002 classic Punch-Drunk Love. Mark has described the film as both Anderson’s and Sandler’s best, saying that it was the film that convinced him that Adam Sandler is “actually quite good.”
Future watchalong commentary releases will include:
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Robert Bresson’s 1959 Pickpocket
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in 2004’s Before Sunset
Toy Story
Sam Raimi’s 1981 horror The Evil Dead
Darren Aranofsky’s psychological thriller Pi
“I can’t wait for people to hear Simon and I witter on about some great and not-so-great films. Hopefully I’ll be able to open people up to some classics, and I’m sure they’ll enjoy me being tortured by watching utter dross like the first Pirates film,” says Mark Kermode.
Simon Mayo adds: “When we said we wanted to add real value, this is what we were talking about. Mark’s obviously going to subject me to all sorts of pretentious nonsense so it’ll be interesting to see how much I can stand.”
The first episode on Paul Thomas Anderson’s Punch-Drunk Love launches this Saturday, 9 July.
