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Gary Oldman leads a 6-episode adaptation of the 2010 novel by Mick Herron, the first of eight so far.  The core high concept of this series is that Mi5 has a secret side agency where they send all of their fuckup agents into a sort of purgatory (Slough House).  A brilliantly written dark comedy. We’re always inviting input on what movies and films to cover on the podcast at: https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Gary Oldman leads a 6-episode adaptation of the 2010 novel by Mick Herron, the first of eight so far.  The core high concept of this series is that Mi5 has a secret side agency where they send all of their fuckup agents into a sort of purgatory (Slough House).  A brilliantly written dark comedy. We’re always inviting input on what movies and films to cover on the podcast at: https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Our first anime!  It’s more proof (if you needed it) that we are dedicated to cover anything spy-related.  This manga has been a big hit in Japan, and weebs like David have been eagerly anticipating the translation into television.  More of a family sitcom than a pure spy thriller, but we will give it a look and discuss the tradecraft of the show.     Next week we will start in on Slow Horses, a 6-episode AppleTV offering starring Gary Oldman and Jonathan Pryce.   Our next spy MOVIE episode has yet to be chosen, so now is a GREAT time to tell us what you want at: https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Palmerfest concludes with our analysis of the return of Michael Caine to the role of the iconic bespectacled secret agent in the 90’s.  Filmed back-to-back with its sequel Midnight in St. Petersburg (1996), it was initially meant for theatrical release but scaled back to a Showtime cable channel offering.  Tod and David can only speculate on the reasons why, but speculate we will.   Next week, a brief deviation into one of the stranger corners of spy entertainment, a look at the first few episodes of the new anime series Spy Family (available in the US on Hulu and Crunchyroll).  Following that, we will catch up with Slow Horses (AppleTV). We’re always inviting input on what films and television series to cover at: https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

CONCLUSION of our discussion of the six-episode IPCRESS File from ITV.   ‘Palmerfest’ continues next week however with a change of plans, the movie will be Bullet to Beijing (1995).  Discussion of the new AppleTV series Slow Horses (Gary Oldman, Jonathan Pryce) on the near horizon.   Let us know what you would like covered at: https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Discussion of the newly released British ITV adaptation of the IPCRESS File continues with analysis of the fifth of this six-episode offering.  This Len Deighton novel was most famously adapted for film in 1965 starring Michael Caine and produced by Bond co-producer Harry Saltzman.   Next week will be our last on this TV series.  SCHEDULE CHANGE announcement, our ‘Palmerfest’ will conclude not with Midnight in St. Petersburg, but with Bullet to Beijing (1995).  Reasons for this will be explained.   We’re always inviting input on what movies and films to cover on the podcast at: https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Discussion of the newly released British ITV adaptation of the IPCRESS File continues with analysis of the fourth of this six-episode offering.  This Len Deighton novel was most famously adapted for film in 1965 starring Michael Caine and produced by Bond co-producer Harry Saltzman.   We will continue to give weekly coverage on this TV series, and cap out our ‘Palmerfest’ with a movie episode discussing the final Palmer film, Midnight in St. Petersburg (1996). Next television series and next movie have not yet been decided, so if there is something you want us to cover, now is a great time to chime in.  You can do so at: https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Producer Harry Saltzman takes newly-minted superstar Michael Caine back for a third dip into the Harry Palmer well, and the results are not great.  In fact, the movie’s performance with audiences and critics are so bad that Caine convinces Saltzman to release him from the planned five movie contract.  It’s the tradecraft that we are most interested in though, and Tod and Dave get into it like we always do. Please look forward to our continued week-by-week discussion of the new IPCRESS File television miniseries, followed by our final ‘Palmerfest’ contribution in which we will tackle the final Palmer film, Midnight in St. Petersburg (1996).   Next television series and next movie have not yet been decided, so if there is something you want us to cover, now is a great time to chime in.  You can do so at: https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Discussion of the newly released British ITV adaptation of the IPCRESS File continues with analysis of the third of this six-episode offering.  This Len Deighton novel was most famously adapted for film in 1965 starring Michael Caine and produced by Bond co-producer Harry Saltzman.   A full movie discussion episode of Billion Dollar Brain (1967) has been recorded, and will go live as soon as we can finish editing. 

British ITV adaptation of the Len Deighton novel, also famously adapted for film in 1965.  This version sticks firmly to its 1960’s roots but makes interesting update choices in other areas.  We will continue to discuss each episode of the six-episode miniseries on a weekly basis. IN ADDITION we are working on a movie episode for 1967’s Billion Dollar Brain, another Harry Palmer movie, hopefully for release as soon as next week.     

Discussion of the first episode of this six-episode miniseries.  Currently only available to ITV subscribers in Britain.  Which is a damned shame, because this reimagining of the IPCRESS File absolutely cooks. We will be discussing and dissecting each episode week by week.    Due to RL stuff, this podcast recording and editing was made on a really old laptop and is not up to our usual standards. Thanks for hanging out with us.  We will be back up to speed next week.

In the immediate frenzy of the James Bond-fueled 1960’s spy craze, it’s very interesting to note that Bond co-producer Harry Saltzman chooses this moment to produce a sort of ‘Anti-Bond’ spy film.  Michael Caine brings a ‘working man’s’ subtlety to his portrayal of a spy character that will strongly influence the more realistic spy films that will follow in further decades.   A new iteration of this seminal work of spy fiction is just around the corner.  March 6th has just been announced as the first of a planned 6 episode miniseries of the IPCRESS File on ITV.  David and Tod plan to watch and review each episode, each week.    Along the way, we will also be reviewing a selection of the Harry Palmer films, specifically Billion Dollar Brain and Last Night in Petersburg.  Please join us at the park bench of your choice to discuss! Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Closing out discussion of the Netflix miniseries The Spy starring Sacha Baron Cohen as the real life Israeli spy Eli Cohen (1960’s era).   Looking ahead, Casablanca has been tabled.  We are switching tracks to write notes on The IPCRESS File (1965) in preparation for the launch of the tv series in Britain.  Stay tuned! Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license  ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Netflix miniseries The Spy starring Sacha Baron Cohen as the real life Israeli spy Eli Cohen (1960’s era).  In this cast we discuss the third and fourth of the six episodes and we will finish out the series next week.   After we finish The Spy we’ll return to film discussion with Casablanca (1942).   Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license  ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

The Spy (2019) Netflix miniseries The Spy starring Sacha Baron Cohen as the real life Israeli spy Eli Cohen (1960’s era).  In this cast we discuss the first two of the six episodes and we will finish out the series in the following weeks.   After we finish The Spy we’ll return to film discussion with Casablanca (1942)..   Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license  ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Denis Villeneuve directs Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and a darkly brooding Benicio del Toro in this film about CIA operations involving Mexican and Colombian drug cartels.  Big favorite of Tod and Dave, highly recommend.     Over the following three weeks we will discuss the Netflix miniseries The Spy starring Sacha Baron Cohen as the real life Israeli spy Eli Cohen (1960’s era).   Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Friend of the show Joe Duffus joins us to conclude discussion of Le Bureau des Legendes season one.  Spoilers abound.     Next up is Sicario (2015), a spy-adjacent movie about CIA operations involving Mexican and Colombian drug cartels.  Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro star.   Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license  ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Continued discussion of Le Bureau des Legendes includes everything up to and including episode 6.  Next week:  concluding discussion of the 10 episode season.   The next movie will be Sicario (2015), a spy-adjacent movie about CIA operations involving Mexican and Colombian drug cartels.  Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro star.  This one is pretty highly regarded by Tod and Dave, so do seek it out if you haven’t already. Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license  ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Rebroadcast episode in preparation for a couple weeks of delving further into this critically acclaimed French spy series.  Next week: episode 6, following week: episode 10.   The next movie has not been picked yet, so send recommendations.   Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license  ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

We launched this podcast with the mission to cover ALL types of spy movies, good and bad.  Here is proof of our commitment to the mission.  The spy craze of the 1960’s left no studio hesitant to cash in, and that included the Hanna Barbera animation studio.  In the first feature length Flintstones film, Fred is tasked by ‘the government’ to take the place of an international superspy.   Next up we will be revisiting Season One of Le Bureau, a critically acclaimed French spy television series. Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/