The Searchers

The Searchers return to familiar territory with acclaimed Japanese arthouse director Wim Wenders — the second film of his covered on the pod, following The American Friend on episode 89. Ben and Chris dig into Japanese culture and the influences shaping Wenders' work. How good is Koji Yakusho's performance? Is Ozu the ultimate touchstone for Japanese cinema? And when will switch-glass bathrooms finally make it to America? All that and more on this episode of The Searchers.

 

Two episodes dropping in the same week; aren't you all so lucky?! It’s been two years since we’ve covered a film from one of our favorite eras. What better than to return to it with another pick from Chris! It’s 1949’s The Passionate Friends, directed by David Lean and starring Ann Todd and the great Claude Rains, one of Kevin’s personal faves and known more to him as Senator Joseph Paine in Frank Capra’s beloved Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. And so, folks, with the heart and soul of Brief Encounter and the airy enthusiasm of In Which We Serve, join Chris and Kevin as they head forth into known waters of beautiful people, beautiful environments, and just a rather beautiful film. The Golden Age has been waiting for the gang’s return!

 

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We here at The Searchers Podcast have taken you, dear listeners, over rough terrain, sprawling seas, steaming asphalt, and about 30,000 feet in the sky… but have we not yet taken you back in time?? Or even into the future?? Join Chris and Kevin as they embark on a rather intriguing journey, traveling through time. The Searchers are covering Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes by filmmaker Junta Yamaguchi in his directorial debut!

Hop on the stagecoach with us as we retrofit it with a time traveling device to take you two minutes into the future! Wait a minute… now wait another! You knew you’d still be reading this! Hah! Don’t change the future!

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Folks, it’s flabbergasting that we haven’t covered an historical epic until now! So in light of the release of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, we choose to either prep your palette for that new cinematic adaptation of Homer’s epic poem or provide you with a possibly better rendition of screen poetry with a previous Homeric adaptation of Iliad. One that made its debut over twenty years ago in bright form with a classic ensemble cast. It’s 2004’s Troy! Covering the Director’s Cut of the film, come join the gang as they ride off into Ancient Greece to discover souls older than they are and with some arguably better drip! Should you listeners choose to return to an era of bright epics such as this one or join the zeitgeist of praise for Nolan’s new feature? We review, you decide! This is going to be great, peeps! Also, if you saw The Odyssey in theaters, what’d all of you think?? Worthy of your time, or might an older cinematic epic be more delectable? Email us at thesearcherspodcast@gmail.com.

Following John Candy: I Like Me and I Am Patrick Swayze, we’re on our third coverage of a documentary, peeps! This time an exploration of the life of not an actor, but an artist. An artist of sportsmanship, former NBA star, Jeremy Lin. It’s been over a decade since the film was released, but where has this hometown hero of Kevin’s been? It’s about time he takes a little journey with Chris and explore why his fellow Southern Californian and Torrance-born son left the NBA, the trials he’s faced to make it to one of the most lauded leagues in North America, and leading up to his status during the 2012-2014 era of playing for the Houston Rockets. So if you love sports, especially the NBA, and underdog tales, Chris and Kevin have a lil’ treat for y’all! Also, who’d all of you root for during the NBA Finals?? Are you Knicks fans? Spurs? There’s no hate here, we welcome you fellow hoop fans, so don’t you worry! Email us at thesearcherspodcast@gmail.com. PS-Send us some jerseys!

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Our episode catalogue: https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/

THE SEARCHERS PODCAST! Having journeyed through 124 episodes of questions, conversations, rabbit holes, revelations, and the occasional detour into the absurd, Ben and Chris continue onward. Ever since they first set out, they have traveled the highways and byways of cinema—collecting stories, challenging assumptions, and learning about life to the fullest. Striding ahead into Episode 125, microphones at the ready, they continue forth, seeking kino wherever it may be found. And who knows!? Perhaps they're destined to uncover a long forgotten OVA that changes everything. Or... maybe not. Either way, the search continues!

Submit your mailbags to us at thesearcherspodcast@gmail.com. Thank you.

Please rate us a 5/5, and review us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us.

Follow us on Letterboxd.com if you'd like to see what we've recently watched. Ben, Chris, & Kevin

Our episode catalogue: https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/

Long time listeners know that there are two Schitt’s Creek fans on this show and no, Kevin ain’t one of them, and apparently that needs to be fixed. It’s Ben and Chris! Yet, Kevin’s pick for this episode is a little charmer that stars Schitt’s Creek’s two leads, Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara! In an entry that is sort of a spiritual successor to our episodes reviewing John Candy: I Like Me and Only the Lonely, Chris and Kevin dive into this lesser known mockumentary, imbued with the spirit and talent of two other Second City Television stars and set in a humble city of small-town America where ambition, innocence, and silliness are all wrapped up in one package. Join us because this is a fun one!

In this episode, The Searchers hop aboard the Swayze Train as Chris and Ben dive into the 2019 documentary I Am Patrick Swayze and revisit the life, career, and legacy of one of Hollywood’s most magnetic stars. From Road House to Dirty Dancing and Ghost (and more), the guys reflect on the movies that made Swayze an icon and why his performances still resonate decades later. Along the way, they unpack the documentary’s most emotional moments, including stories from family, friends, and co-stars that reveal the driven, complicated, and deeply human man behind the fame. The conversation blends nostalgia, humor, and genuine appreciation for an actor who gave everything he had both on and off screen. Whether you’ve been a Swayze fan for years or are just discovering his work, this episode is a celebration of a larger-than-life talent whose impact still lingers in pop culture today.

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Our episode catalogue: https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/