37: Big Beat Cinema

Jan 23, 2025

Finn McCorry, a DJ and NTS host, dives into the fascinating world of Big Beat Cinema, a playful exploration of stylish heist films from the late '90s and early '00s. He discusses the vibrant interplay between big beat music and iconic movies like Ocean's Eleven, reflecting on the genre's decline and past popularity. The conversation touches on the unrealistic depictions of technology in films and critiques the commercialization of dance music in cinema. With humor and nostalgia, Finn reveals how these elements shaped our cultural landscape.

01:26:40

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insights

INSIGHT

Big Beat Cinema Tropes

Big Beat Cinema thrives on "moments" aiming for peak coolness, often in heist films.
These films use montages, monologues, and flashy editing to enhance the cool factor.

insights

INSIGHT

Big Beat Cinema's Musical Influences

Big Beat Cinema soundtracks use music sampled by big beat artists, like in Ocean's Eleven.
Danny Boyle's films blend this with British electronic music, seen in the editing style.

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INSIGHT

Soderbergh's Style

Steven Soderbergh used distinct camera techniques in Ocean's Eleven to characterize each member.
This style-focused approach highlights Big Beat Cinema's emphasis on visuals.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Launching the No Tags Film Season and Letterboxd Community

01:51 • 3min

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Big Beat Cinema: A Nostalgic Exploration

04:47 • 18min

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Exploring Early 2000s Tech in Film: The Hacker Archetype

22:58 • 3min

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Exploring Big Beat Cinema

25:41 • 30min

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The Dance Music Evolution in Film

55:50 • 8min

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Big Beat Cinema: A Cultural Collision

01:04:19 • 20min

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Supporting the Podcast and Exploring Big Beat Cinema

01:24:11 • 2min

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This week we kick off the first ever No Tags film season! Based on an original idea by DJ and NTS host Finn, Big Beat Cinema is our attempt to identify and decode a much-loved and entirely made-up micro-genre.

We begin by outlining the core canon and basic tropes of BBC, paying particular attention to the ultra-stylish heist movies of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s – think Ocean’s Eleven, Mark Wahlberg’s The Italian Job, Snatch and even The Matrix.

We also try to explain why big beat – the sample-flipping, chart-dominating, Hawaiian shirt-wearing sound of the millennium – became so integral to these movies’ portrayal of cool guys pulling off implausible heists.

From zany editing to Junkie XL, from Paul Oakenfold to the politics of cool, and from Skint Records to the correct shade of denim, this first episode lays out the core principles of BBC.

Let us know what you think in the comments – including on our Letterboxd list, where you can check out the full selection of BBC contenders, from Shallow Grave to Kneecap.

Get full access to No Tags at notagspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

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