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Do you see the stars in 3 dimensions when you look up at the sky at night? Or is that eternal blackish blue firefly filed abyss as flat to you as paper? James Cameron sees the final frontier in 3D glory and this week we watched his thesis statement on the subject, 2009’s Avatar. Next week we dance into unfamiliar territory as we watch a film none of us have seen before, Cabaret. We will either sing its praises or toss this film from an era passed into the wastebasket where perhaps we should have left it?

This week we travel to the clean deserts of the Middle East to experience the true adventures of Lawrence of Arabia. We argue about the virtues of a film based on true events. We also attempt to tie a bow on our regular discussion on the cultural sins of historical Hollywood. Next week we will watch and discuss both the last epic on our list and arguably the newest epic to be made: 2009’s Avatar. We will talk about how the film somehow both fizzled and sizzled in its impact.

None of us received that magical letter letting us know we were wizards when we turned 11. So we have settled with discussing the Harry Potter film franchise and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban specifically. We talk about growing up as an entire media culture is born and how the fandom has evolved. Next week we head to the Middle East to tackle Lawrence of Arabia. We will explore if the film is anything more than a well acted critically praised award winner.

Are you your mother? If you answered this question in the affirmative you should probably visit a medical professional and you probably should not watch this week’s movie: Psycho. We talk again about our fascination with serial killers and how some movies invade and shape our culture. Next week we will finish our spooktacular spooktober (albeit a bit late) with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. We will discuss thee entire franchise and how it changed Hollywood.

This week we get lost in Pan’s Labyrinth. We debate if it deserves a spot on our list and if it is even a good movie. We also discuss the differences between low and high fantasy. Next we will bare witness to Murder! We will do this by discussing 1960’s Psycho.

This week we watched the 1964 film adapted from a 1956 Broadway play that was a musical version of a 1913 play that was also made into a movie in 1938 and itself was based on a Greek myth from book 10 of Ovid‘s Metamorphoses: My Fair Lady. We talk about the stunningly beautiful Audrey Hepburn and briefly try comparing her to Julie Andrews. We also argue about the modernity of the film. Join us next week when we kick our Spooktacular Spoocktober into full gear with Pan’s Labyrinth. We’ll talk mental health, the curse of war, and the dangers of bedtime stories.

This week 3 hardly combative podcasters disagree about 12 Angry Men. We examine the progress of the American justice system while acknowledging the progress that still needs to be made. We also discuss the psychology of jurors 3 and 8. Next week we take a break from Spooktober to celebrate Deepak’s birthday. We are celebrateing by watching and discussing one of his favorite films My Fair Lady.

Only one of the fifty films featured in this season of Shifting Expectations qualified for discussion via all five of our qualifying categories. This week we discuss that film, The Godfather. We explore its merits and get sidetracked with a long, but relevant discussion about Spoilers. Also this week we discussed Spirited Away. It should be ahead of this episode in your feed. Next week we begin our October Spooktacular month. We will start by discussing the murder explored in 1957’s 12 Angry Men.

This week we are watching the final animated film to be featured on this season of Shifting Expectations. Discussing Spirited Away is a challenge and a pleasure. We try to describe the beauty of the story and animation. We also wrestle with the themes of the film and ask what cultural significance we might be missing. Also this week is The Godfather. It should also be next in your feed. We briefly debate if this film is deserving of its unmatched praise and popularity.

The wild world of insurance is not often the set piece for Hollywood movies, but if Double Indemnity is any indication perhaps it should be more often. This week we explore the film that established Noir films as a Hollywood mainstay. We talk about the math discussed in the film and debate what Neff’s one mistake was. Next episode we head overseas and into the realm of the spirits to experience 2001’s Spirited Away. We will explore how foreign animation studios are keeping hand drawn animation alive in the digital era.

The hills are alive! This week we explore one of the 11 films to hold the title of Highest Grossing Film of all time: The Sound of Music. We attempt to understand this movie’s incredible staying power and ask the question, “Why is My Favorite Things a Christmas song?” Next week we will be introduced to film noir with Double Indemnity. We will examine the distinct visual style inspired by this film and how effective it is as a storytelling device.

The Academy Awards might not matter but they give s a measuring stick by which to compare films. And few films have as impressive an Academy Award resume as 1950’s All About Eve. In this episode we discuss the film’s impressive 14 Academy Award nominations and its perhaps more impressive 5 acting nominations. Next week we will hear the music because the hills are alive. We will be discussing 1965’s The Sound of Music and we will try to keep our singing to a minimum, but if the precedent set during our past episodes about musicals are any indication we wont succeed.

Tigers and Dragons and Swords! Oh My! In this episode we are discussing the Chinese film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. This film broke through and had financial success in the United States despite being a foreign film and we try to uncover why that happened. Next episode we will discuss All About Eve. This 1950 film is about Broadway and explores the relationship between old and new talents. Be sure to join us next week for our discussion.

Beginning in 1932 the Barrow Gang, a criminal group, ravaged a depression smitten mid-west America and in 1967 a film captured the exploits of the gang responsible for robbing countless small stores and even a few banks. We talk about that groundbreaking film, Bonnie and Clyde. Next we go international with one of the two non-American films to have received 10 Academy Award nominations: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. We will talk about how the academy has historically analyzed subtitled (not English speaking) film differently and we will inevitably get into Tanner’s China thing.

Sometimes great films are not enjoyable. That might be your experience with this week’s film Schindler’s List. That perhaps is a part of what makes this film about the Holocaust so impactful. We explore the harrowing images and moments from history portrayed in the film and discuss our feelings on the importance of historical accuracy in film. Next episode “We Rob Banks!” or at least talk about the robbery of banks in discussing Bonnie and Clyde. Join us next week for some fun exploring the film that ushered in the New Hollywood era.

Method acting might as well be synonymous with acting these days, but that all began On the Waterfront. This week we explore the film that proved the acting style was a viable option. We also talk about the impact shooting on location had on the film. Next week we return to the work of director Steven Spielberg with his other 1993 masterpiece Schindler’s List. Through his film we visit the horrors of the holocaust.

Only releasing 8 years ago The Avengers is the most recent film we will be watching and discussing this year. We mostly listen to Ryley nerd out about comic book movies, but we also explored the incredible and immediate impact this film has had on Hollywood and what films get made today. Next week we jump back into the 1950s to watch On the Waterfront. We will talk about aspect ratios, communism, and how method acting took over cinema.

We don’t promise much to you, our listeners, here at ShiftingExpectations.com. But one thing we can promise you is that we will never try to eat you. This week we watched The Silence of the Lambs and were joined by Collider.com‘s Haleigh Foutch. We discussed what makes a horror movie and how this film transformed nighttime television in the United States. Next week we will get heroic by watching the most recent film on our list 2012’s The Avengers. Be sure to come back to listen to Tanner and Deepak try to get a few words in while talking with super fan Ryley.

This week’s film, Gone with the Wind, is no stranger to controversy. Both the highest grossing film of all time, when adjusted for inflation, and widely criticized for its rosy portrayal of slavery. Instead of steering clear of the controversy we leaned into it and tried to have the difficult conversations this piece of film history prompts. Join us and then go find some friends who have recently watched this epic and have your own hard conversation, without doing that how can we expect to progress as a nation. Next week we will be joined by Collider’s Haleigh Foutch, to discuss the third and most recent film to win “The Big Five” at the Academy Awards. We will explore the psyche of The Silence of the Lambs two serial killers as well as the American public’s fascination with the minds of the depraved.

For this episode we took a break from our list of essential films to just talk. We re-evaluate the movies we have watched so far, quiz Deepak on how he has scored movies, and bicker about our unpopular opinions. We needed this break and we hope you enjoy taking one with us. Next we’ll be back at it with one of the biggest films of all time Gone with the Wind. We will try to unwrap the recent controversy surrounding the film as well as attempt to share our thoughts about race and cinema.