Blank Check with Griffin & David: Episode Summary – "Vamps with Caroline Framke"
Podcast Information:
- Title: Blank Check with Griffin & David
- Hosts: Griffin Newman and David Sims
- Guest: Caroline Framke
- Producer: Ben Hosley
- Episode: Vamps with Caroline Framke
- Release Date: July 6, 2025
Introduction
In this episode of Blank Check with Griffin & David, hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims welcome film critic Caroline Framke to discuss Amy Heckerling's 2012 film, "Vamps." The conversation delves deep into the movie's themes, production nuances, character performances, and its place within Heckerling's filmography.
Overview of "Vamps"
Griffin Newman opens the discussion by expressing his initial reservations about the film's premise, particularly its focus on blogs and modern digital culture:
“Anytime the movie's about, like, blogs or complaining about blogs, I'm like, all right, because you're Junocor.”
— Griffin Newman [00:35]
David Sims contrasts "Vamps" with its contemporaries, noting its attempt to satirize current societal trends through the lens of vampire lore.
Thematic Analysis
Caroline Framke provides a comprehensive analysis of the film's underlying themes, emphasizing the metaphorical use of vampires:
“Vampires have always been a metaphor for marginalized people... But in this movie, it's much more drugs than sex until Justin Kirk and Mary Lou Henner have their moment.”
— Caroline Framke [03:33]
The hosts discuss how "Vamps" diverges from traditional vampire narratives by focusing on themes of immortality, relevance, and the exhaustion of maintaining youthfulness:
“They're trying to stay forever young, but it's not enough to just biologically be forever young. They need to figure out how to be relevant young women, which is this whole fucking game, this, like, rat race they have to do.”
— David Sims [07:58]
Performances and Characters
The episode highlights standout performances, particularly Kristen Ritter's portrayal of Stacy (Goody) and Alicia Silverstone's role as the enigmatic vampire:
“Kristen Ritter is so sweet and vamps. There's one line in it that's so the B that I was like, oh, this is where she was...”
— Caroline Framke [49:10]
Griffin Newman appreciates how the characters embody Amy Heckerling's duality between optimism and pessimism:
“Vamps is about commenting on her weird state as a person whose currency professionally comes from understanding the youth, the younger generations.”
— David Sims [72:38]
Production and Direction
The discussion shifts to the film's production constraints, particularly its modest budget of approximately $10 million, and how this influenced Heckerling's creative decisions:
“It's a very clear filmmaking. You're like, if you move it an inch, this entire environment's going to fall apart.”
— David Sims [05:44]
The hosts commend Heckerling's ability to infuse the film with rich details despite financial limitations, though they note areas where budget constraints led to executional compromises:
“She just has to adjust... It’s the moment where she realizes there’s a two birds with one stone solution, which is, I need to kill Sigourney to sever the stem.”
— Caroline Framke [73:54]
Critical Reception and Box Office
"Vamps" had a limited theatrical release, primarily due to its niche appeal and the timing of its release in the crowded vampire genre landscape dominated by franchises like Twilight and True Blood. The film garnered mixed reviews, with praise for its thematic ambition but criticism for execution flaws:
“Box office Final for this movie was $10,000, $3,000 dollars? It's not amazing. You're right.”
— Griffin Newman [68:51]
Despite its modest performance, "Vamps" found its audience through various streaming platforms, allowing it to achieve a cult following.
Reflections on Amy Heckerling’s Career
Caroline Framke and the hosts reflect on Amy Heckerling's career trajectory, particularly how "Vamps" represents a departure from her earlier successes like Clueless:
“She clearly loves making movies about optimistic people, but she also respects the necessity of pessimism, which is a recurring theme in her work.”
— Caroline Framke [50:22]
They discuss the challenges Heckerling faced in maintaining her artistic vision amidst changing industry trends and the decline of the high-concept, larger-budget studio comedy.
Rankings of Amy Heckerling’s Films
The episode concludes with Griffin Newman and David Sims ranking Amy Heckerling's filmography. Their rankings reflect their personal preferences and critical assessments:
-
Clueless
“Clueless is the top because of its iconic status and enduring influence.”
— Griffin Newman [154:00] -
Fast Times Original
“A foundational piece that set the stage for her later works.”
— David Sims [154:04] -
Look Who's Talking
-
Johnny Dangerously
-
Vamps
-
Euro Vacation
-
I Could Never Be Your Woman
-
Other Films
“There is no movie she's made that I dislike.”
— David Sims [155:30]
Both hosts agree on the significance of Clueless and Fast Times Original, while acknowledging that later films like "Vamps" showcase Heckerling's continued thematic exploration despite varying degrees of success.
Notable Quotes
-
“We cannot do this for two hours. This is not an option.”
— David Sims [03:00] -
“Bittersweet is definitely the word, especially we'll get to at the end.”
— Caroline Framke [06:33] -
“This movie's a perfect cultural object. It is not a good movie, but it's a perfect cultural object.”
— David Sims [160:15] -
“We are saying goodbye to Amy Heckerling.”
— Griffin Newman [151:25]
Conclusion
Blank Check with Griffin & David provides an insightful and engaging analysis of Amy Heckerling's "Vamps" through the knowledgeable lens of Caroline Framke. The episode not only dissects the film's artistic and thematic elements but also situates it within the broader context of Heckerling's career and the evolving landscape of Hollywood comedies.
Stay Tuned: Join Griffin, David, and their guests in future episodes as they continue to explore the complete filmographies of Hollywood's most influential auteurs.
This summary captures the essence of the "Vamps with Caroline Framke" episode, highlighting key discussions, thematic insights, and memorable quotes to provide a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the podcast.