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Artwork for The Pestle: In-depth Movie Talk, No Fluff

The Pestle: In-depth Movie Talk, No Fluff | Film Review | Spoilers

Wes Evans: Actor, Filmmaker, Director, Writer; Todd Sapio: Actor, Producer, Musician, Athlete
Cinematography
Storytelling
Character Development
Filmmaking
City Of God
Existentialism
The Evil Dead
Donnie Darko
Stranger Than Fiction
Cinema
Speed
Francis Ford Coppola
Gladiator II
Alien: Romulus
Exposition
Portrait Of a Lady On Fire
The Fall
Heat
Rio De Janeiro
Rush

Cinema lovers unite! Two actors and filmmakers decided to cut through all the fluff and start a movie podcast where they actually discuss the film and not a million other things you don’t care about. Covering the obvious (did you like the movie?) while diving a little deeper (what is Interstellar really about? is there a bootstrap paradox?) we are having an in-depth conversation about movies and s... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes372Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Visual ArtsTV & FilmArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Pestle: In-depth Movie Talk, No Fluff

Latest Episodes

We play Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” and discuss:

• Story & Writing, thematic cohesion, subplots, play;

• and other such stuff and things and stuff.

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serio... more

We sneak up on Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” and discuss:

• Cinematography, blocking cars;

• Story & Writing, modern vs classic cinema;

• and other such stuff and things and stuff.

“When you’re young, you look at television and think, there’s a co... more

We play in Kane Parson’s “Backrooms” and discuss:

• Production design and set decoration;

• Story & Writing, symbolism;

• and other such stuff and things and stuff.

“Perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition.“ – James Baldwi... more

We capture Jon Favreau’s “The Mandalorian and Grogu” and discuss:

• The problem with Star Wars’ endless faceless bad guys;

• Story & Writing, kick the dog storytelling, cute gimmicks, what makes for a good fight scene;

• and other such stuff and t... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Hamish Purdy
Set decorator with experience on films such as The Revenant and Cabin in the Woods
Episode: Ep 301: “Heretic”
Raul Vega
Los Angeles-based musician, recording engineer, voiceover director, writer, and actor. Worked on eight Grammy-nominated soundtracks and created digital instruments for Hans Zimmer.
Hans Zimmer
Episode: Ep 300: “Interstellar” part 4
Elissa Marie
Full blown artist, winner of Best Visual Artist in Austin
Austin Chronicle
Episode: Ep 286: “The Dark Crystal” (1982)
Joe Howes
Visual effects specialist from New Zealand
Episode: Ep 277: “Fallout”

Hosts

Wes
Host of The Pestle; filmmaker and musician; co-host who frequently leads craft-focused discussions.
Todd
Co-host and filmmaker; provides practical, film-making oriented perspectives and counterpoints.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 44 ratings
  • Secret of Kells

    Greetings Gents! Found your podcast because of your review of Annihilation. I found many of my own ideas being echoed in your review. Helpful to know I’m not crazy, or at least not crazy alone! I would like to ask you to review an animated film, “The Secret of Kells.” Your review of the Book of Eli gave me hope that you would deal with Kells properly. Thank you for your work, and I look forward to hearing you discuss the Secret of Kells!

    EDIT: thank you for reviewing the secret of Kells. Your i... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Holyfear84
    United States2 years ago
  • Secret of Kells

    Greetings Gents! Found your podcast because of your review of Annihilation. I found many of my own ideas being echoed in your review. Helpful to know I’m not crazy, or at least bot crazy alone! I would like to ask you review an animated film, the secret of kells. Your review of the bool of Eli gave me hope that you would deal with kells properly. Thank you for your work, and I look forward to hearing you discuss the secret of kells!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Holyfear84
    United States3 years ago
  • Pestle

    Great movie review and discussions!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ChrisDionne
    United States3 years ago
  • I'm so glad I stumbled upon this gem. I love the banter between the hosts as they share their reactions to films and insights about life and living authentically. The Pestle is a joy to listen to and has some fantastic take-aways. Highly recommend.

    Podchaser
    5
    Courtney Marden
    4 years ago
  • A deep and different approach… really smart duo.

    Big fan of this podcast Wes is a really smart guy and brings a bevy of knowledge on a lot of topics (even beyond cinema) that makes this movie show a bit deeper than most of the others I listen to. Todd brings a nice counterpoint and soul to each show. I also like that both of these guys seem to enjoy the same movies as I do, which is an added bonus. Keep it up fellas!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The San Diego Chicken
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Consistent quality and useful takeaways for filmmakers or enthusiasts.
Energetic hosts make dense topics accessible without losing depth.
Great banter and deep dives into filmmaking techniques.
Smart, insightful film talk with real craft detail.
Conversational but deeply knowledgeable about cinema.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 316: “Lost in Translation”
Q: Is this a love story or not?
It's a love story about life, exploring connection and reinvigoration, rather than traditional romantic love.
Ep 295: “Evil Dead II”
Q: What did you expect coming in, and what did you get?
The guest expected a film that his bandmates had praised but found it was really enjoyable and recognized its self-awareness.
Ep 267: “Dune: Part 2”
Q: What did you think about the final fight sequence?
The host remarks that it was amazing and feels more real than formulaic.
Ep 267: “Dune: Part 2”
Q: What do you think of Timothy Chalamet's performance?
One host expresses that he thinks it's not bad, but lacked nuance, feeling more like he played the character as written rather than adding depth.
Ep 277: “Fallout”
Q: Did you play the games, and how did that impact your experience, you know, watching the series?
I played Fallout 3 and loved the aesthetic, but I didn't play the games to be a lore guy; I just wanted to collect things and build stuff and shoot stuff.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two filmmaker-hosts dive deep into film analysis, pairing rigorous craft critique with accessible, personable banter. Episodes commonly unpack cinematography, editing, score, and performance while exploring themes, storytelling choices, and the director's vision. They often connect technical craft to emotional impact, using specific scenes to illustrate how filmmaking decisions shape meaning. The show stands out for its hands-on emphasis on production details (lighting, camera work, rhythm) alongside broader cultural and narrative questions, making it appealing to cinephiles and aspiring filmmakers alike. Sponsorships and practical takeaways for screenwriters and editors frequently surface, giving listeners actionable insights wrapped in en... more

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1. Reel Spoilers - Movie Reviews
2. Mad About Movies
3. The Big Picture
4. The Daily
5. The Ringer-Verse

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this podcast launched 9 years ago and published 372 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Hamish Purdy
2. Raul Vega
3. Elissa Marie
4. Joe Howes

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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