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This week, Nicky has chosen to talk about THE LIVES OF OTHERS (2006).

Written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, THE LIVES OF OTHERS is set in 1980s East Berlin. When Gerd Wiesel is given the task of bugging Georg Dreyman’s apartment, it’s just another surveillance job for the experienced Stasi officer.

Or IS it?

With themes such as ‘Can a person truly change?’ and ‘Does goodness have a chance of flourishing in a brutal, oppressive regime?’ THE LIVES OF OTHERS is a remarkable film that asks and answers the big questions. Phil had never seen it, and rolled his eyes when he learnt it had subtitles. Nicky has loved it for a while, not least because it helps support her German Duolingo.

A heavy backdrop to a beautiful tale about the will of humanity. Could this be one of the rare occasions where both Nicky and Phil agree?

References mentioned, and wider reading…

https://collider.com/the-lives-of-others-movie/ by Namwene Mukabwa

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/sep/21/dvdreviews.drama by Rob Mackie

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-lives-of-others - Common Sense Media

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1708388/plotsummary/?ref_=tt_ov_pl – Behind the Wall documentary details


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This week, Nicky has chosen to talk about BABY BOOM (1987).

Written by Nancy Meyers, directed by Charles Shyer, and starring Diane Keaton, BABY BOOM tells the story of JC Wiatt. A power-woman of the 1980s, JC - aka the Tiger Lady - is a ball-bustin’, workaholic, badass. But then she inherits a baby, which could honestly happen to anyone. Can she remain her company’s top dog, whilst learning to deal with her new mini room-mate? And is it possible for a woman to have it all?

With Sam Shephard, Harold Ramis, and Sam Wanamaker, this feminist-tale-with-laughs is one of Nicky’s long-time comfort watches. Can Phil see the beauty of this epic, or is he simply going to fixate on the scenes with Spengler? You’ll just have to listen and find out.

References mentioned, and wider reading…

Review by Roger Moore -
https://rogersmovienation.com/2025/10/13/classic-film-review-quintessential-keaton-parenting-with-a-feminist-message-baby-boom-1987/

Clothing Makes the Clown: Diane Keaton’s Drag by Peter Piatowski -
https://fashionxfilm.com/clothing-makes-the-clowndiane-keatons-drag/

Review by Roger Ebert -
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/baby-boom-1987

Cinema Sips by Liz Locke -
https://cinemasips.com/tag/diane-keaton/


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This week, Phil has chosen to talk about MAN ON FIRE (2004).

Written by A.J Quinnell and Peter Hegeland and directed by Tony Scott, MAN ON FIRE stars Denzel Washington as John Creasy. A world-weary man, with a past that haunts him, struggling to function. The last thing he needs is to become the bodyguard of a little girl in Mexico City… or IS it?

A heartwarming odd-couple dynamic that warms the cockles, or a blood-thirsty revenge-quest that chills the bones? MAN ON FIRE is a conundrum.

Phil chose this week’s film and reckons it’s a long-term fave. Nicky had never heard of it prior to the pod and has come with questions. Listen to their convo to find out their thoughts.

References mentioned, and wider reading…

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/man-fire-review/ by Ian Freer

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/man-on-fire-2004 by Roger Ebert

https://spectrumculture.com/2012/10/24/criminally-underrated-man-on-fire/ by Kyle Fowle.

• Finally, you can find us on Bluesky at @lightscamereapod
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This week, Nicky has chosen to talk about ALL OF US STRANGERS (2023).

Written and directed by Andrew Haigh, and starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal, ALL OF US STRANGERS is the story of Adam. We meet him in his forties, still dealing with the childhood loss of his parents and the trauma of growing up gay in the 1980s. He’s been bottling up a lot. A chance meeting with his dead dad opens up a whole load of parental conversations he never got to have. And then there’s Harry, the neighbour downstairs.

This film parachuted straight into Nicky’s ‘top movie of all time’ spot the second she saw it. And Phil? He’ll share his thoughts on the pod. Fair warning - this film is about grief and parental loss, as is the chat on the pod. Take care if you’re feeling particularly raw right now.

References mentioned, and wider reading…

Imagined Spaces by Gail Low and Ruth Morrison -
https://www.imaginedspaces.org/taking-a-line-for-a-walk/all-of-us-strangers

Reddit thread -
https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/195xu51/official_discussion_all_of_us_strangers_spoilers/?solution=32402ff2277c206632402ff2277c2066&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec9ef2774bf47f77021865e95577eb0279&jsc_orig_r=

Alex Needham in the Guardian -
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/26/all-of-us-strangers-sex-death-ghosts-and-that-ending-discuss-with-spoilers

Guardian – a selection of gay men share their thoughts -
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/05/what-does-all-of-us-strangers-say-about-being-gay

Nicky’s immediate thoughts upon leaving the cinema
https://substack.com/@bondiela/p-141100603



• Finally, you can find us on Bluesky at @lightscamereapod
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This week, Phil has chosen to talk about ALIENS (1986).

Written by James Cameron, David Giler, and Walter Hill, and directed by James Cameron, ALIENS is the story of PTSD-stricken Ripley and the fact that despite a prior film clearly outlining her lived experience, no one will listen to her until it’s too late. Oh, the lot of being a woman! With space-goo a-plenty, this action horror is forty years old this year. Does it hold up? Does it still need an 18 certificate? And can Phil convince Nicky of its merits when she’s made it abundantly clear she’s no fan of ‘space films’.

Phil’s been a long-time fan, whist this is Nicky’s first watch. Listen to see whether this week it’s more amenable than aggro on the pod.

References mentioned, and wider reading…

A concise summary -
https://www.filmsite.org/series-alien2.html

The South Australian unknown student response -
https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/documents/652891/225c8b2b-8ccb-45b5-b705-b8e7c4737f7f

A comprehensive list of all the tropes included in the film -
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/Aliens -


• Finally, you can find us on Bluesky at @lightscamereapod
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his week, Nicky has chosen to talk about AN EVENING WITH GARY LINEKER (1994).

Written by Arthur Smith and Chris England, and directed by Andy Wilson, AN EVENING WITH GARY LINEKER tells the story of Bill and Monica Despacos. As they try to fix their marriage during a holiday in Ibiza, the Italia ’90 World Cup tournament adds a heated backdrop onto which all their secrets can spill. Starring UK comedy legends from the era, (Caroline Quentin, Paul Merton, and Martin Clunes) as well as soon-to-be movie star, Clive Owen, this gem of a film is riddled with nostalgia for people of a certain age.

Nicky rewatches this TV movie before every international competition in which England Men compete. Phil? Well, if you want his opinions, you’ll have to listen to find out.


References mentioned, and wider reading…

Why Italia 90 Was Not Beautiful To Everyone, But Will Always Be Special, by Amy Lawrence -
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jun/15/italia-90-world-cup-special

The Letterboxd link -
https://letterboxd.com/film/an-evening-with-gary-lineker/


• Finally, you can find us on Bluesky at @lightscamereapod
• On Insta at @lightscameraaggro
• Or you can email us at lightscameraconflict@gmail.com
(Yes, we set up our email address before we’d finalised our name. What of it?!)

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This week, Phil has chosen to talk about BATMAN (1989).

Written by Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren, and directed by Tim Burton, this comic book adaptation landed with a kapow, and ushered in a whole new UK certificate rating. Is this a nerds-only event or does it also appeal to non-comics fans? Is Jack Nicholson perfectly cast or a dated precursor more modern Joker takes? And can modern day audiences root for anyone who says, ‘Hello Legs,’ upon meeting a colleague? All this and more gets discussed this week.

Phil was old enough to watch this at the cinema. Nicky was too young by seven months. Can she finally get over the disappointment and give Batman a fair hearing? There’s only one thing to do… listen and find out.

References mentioned, and wider reading…


Kenneth Lowe for Paste Magazine -
https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/batman/autumn-classics-batman-1989


Funkula on Quarter to Three forums -
https://forum.quartertothree.com/t/does-the-burton-batman-suck/40824


Chris Feil on The Film Experience -
http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2019/10/2/soundtracking-batman-1989.html


Mario Rodriguez in Americana: The American Journal of Popular Culture
https://americanpopularculture.com/journal/articles/fall_2014/rodriguez.htm




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