In this episode, Dara reflects on abandoning his recording session last week and admits to a loss of faith in the podcast. He reminds himself of a couple of the motivations behind starting the show 4 years ago and cites Bob Rafelson’s brilliant New Hollywood film of 1972 – The King of Marvin Gardens – as being one of his sources of inspiration.
Currently back in therapy for the first time in over two decades, Dara is feeling a bit stirred up as he submits to the process. All things point to a reckoning and he considers the centrality to his life of creativity and performance. He shares his thoughts on ‘Sing Sing’, the excellent 2024 movie about a real-life theatre program that runs in the U.S. prison system. The film features several ex-prisoners who participated in the rehabilitative work and their performances carry something deeper than mere acting.
Karla Sofia Gascon, the trans actor who plays the title character in ‘Emilia Perez’, has found herself mired in controversy over some offensive social media comments she made in the past. What are the implications for being the face of representation? How realistic are the expectations placed on a person who becomes the symbol of a specific identity and experience? And are we living through a time of peak intolerance of imperfection?
Also, chaotic movie characters, Jack Nicholson’s best mode, and ageing acting pals.