Maria and Brandon talk about 2020 films, this year's Oscars, and the new movies they want to add to their list to cover.

Peculiar Picture Show

2020 in Movies, and New Movie Picks

This aggression will not stand, man! Maria and Brandon discuss the 1998 movie The Big Lebowski. Brandon explores the movie’s commentary on political discourse in America, and Maria explores some philosophies presented in this film. Maria drinks a white Russian and Brandon reminisces about drinking one once.

The Big Lebowski: Giving Approximately 280 Fucks About Philosophy and Politics

Brandon and Maria discuss the 2007 film There Will Be Blood, talking about the literary nature of the film and how superb they found the filmmaking. Brandon analyzes the psychology of capitalism and religion while Maria explores invisible illness. Maria also tries to do an impression of Daniel Day-Lewis playing Daniel Plainview.

There Will Be Blood: Capitalism, Religion, and Invisible Illness

Brandon and Maria discuss the 1994 film Serial Mom. They discuss John Waters, the types of films he typically makes, and how this movie says a lot about capital punishment and societal norms. Maria also proposes that the movie becomes the official movie mascot for the podcast, and Brandon agrees!

Serial Mom: Our Movie Mascot, and the Psychology of the Death Penalty

Brandon talks about women in the movies (both characters and filmmakers) and the bias and other challenges they face that are holding back many films from being made.

Women in the Movies Battle Bias and Irrational Hatred

Maria and Brandon discuss the 2010 Best Picture winner The King’s Speech. This film is one of the rare ones that talks about stuttering, but also portrays it in a positive light. Brandon gets into some statistics regarding stuttering and how a stutter has affected President Joe Biden. Maria gives her views on what we all lose when people in power hide their maladies and weaknesses from the world. They also play a game to see how stuttering has historically been portrayed in films.

The King’s Speech: Stammering is No Joke

Brandon and Maria discuss the 2003 film Monster, based on the Florida serial killer Aileen Wuornos. They discuss Florida and the film’s message, and they also discuss at length the need to de-stigmatize sex work/prostitution and how poverty plays a role in health.

Monster: Poverty, Sex Work, and Mental Health

Brandon and Maria talk about Split, a 2016 M. Night Shyamalan movie that does way more harm than good in the fight for de-stigmatizing mental illness and people who have Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Brandon attempts to set the record straight as he talks about the characteristics of DID and also gives us some statistics that prove why accurate portrayals of mental illness in media and film is important. Maria discusses her discomfort with the film, particularly regarding the strange mental health messages it seems to be giving. Also, have no fear: Brandon and Maria still very much hate Shakespeare in Love.

Split: The Worst Portrayal of Mental Illness in Film?

Brandon and Maria talk about the 2014 film Boyhood. They discuss how real the movie portrays childhood and family life. They also discuss personality and abuse.

Boyhood: 12 Years of Puberty, Personality, and Abuse

Brandon and Maria talk about the 2002 film Secretary with guests Marion and Kim from More Than a Crush, a podcast about love. The four agree that this movie is a positive one on the mental health front, and Kim, a therapist, lends her analysis on main character Lee and the family systems in the movie, including the stable relationship that Mr. Grey provides Lee.

Secretary: 50 Shades Better Than Other BDSM Movies (with guests Marion and Kim!)

Brandon goes over five films he likes to watch while he's depressed. How many sad indie films make the list? Wait—there's a classic film? Listen and find out!

Movies I Watch When I’m Depressed

In this episode, Brandon asks Maria a series of questions to uncover what a day in the life of someone with Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD, is like.

Borderline Personality Disorder: A Day in Maria’s Life

Maria and Brandon discuss the 1988 Studio Ghibli film Grave of the Fireflies. The film provides a unique Japanese civilian perspective of World War II, and they both agree (along with Reddit) that this may be the saddest film of all time. From a mental health perspective, the duo discusses Japanese and wartime culture and how physical health and mental health are inextricably linked.

Grave of the Fireflies: A Soul-Crushing Wartime Film

In this Spooktacular Halloween episode, Brandon and Maria discuss the 1976 not-so-horror film Carrie. They have their first ever idea exchange where dogs are the butt of the joke. Maria’s favorite part of the movie turns out to be Brandon’s lease favorite part. What a twist! Additionally, Brandon discusses the stigma around trauma and criminal behavior. Maria discusses dissociative identity disorder and parapsychology.

Carrie: The Psychology of Abuse and Criminality (With Pig’s Blood)

Maria and Brandon discuss the 2000 movie American Psycho. They talk about the movie’s negative portrayal of American society, particularly in the 1980s, and the movie’s ending that makes us believe someone like Patrick Bateman—a white, rich man—can literally get away with murder.

American Psycho: Rich White Men Get to Do Everything

Hosts Brandon Gregory and Maria Milazzo, two neurodivergent former English majors, talk about movies as they relate to mental health, mental illness, and invisible illness. From blockbuster hits to arthouse films, there are plenty of movies commenting on these issues. Conditions ranging from depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder to PTSD, emotional abuse, and oppression are discussed.