The Next Reel Film Podcast

Anna and the King of Siam • The Next Reel Aug 31, 2023

“That king certainly hasn’t very good manners.”The Less-Singing, More Burnings VersionAudiences have been fascinated with the life of Anna Leonowens and her time spent in Thailand (then Siam) teaching English to King Mongkut’s wives and children. What’s the draw though? Perhaps the story of a woman on her own in a foreign country? Or a common person who is swept up into a world of royalty and has the ear of a king. Hard to say, but it’s a fascinating story, even if it does feel one-sided. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our 1947 Academy Award Best Writing, Screenplay nominee series with a conversation about John Cromwell’s 1946 film Anna and the King of Siam.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.The first hurdle with this film is the rough brownface that all the actors playing the people of Siam wear. Yes, it’s from the era – we acknowledge that. That doesn’t make it any easier to take. There are also all the other trappings that go along with this element – pidgin English, playing the characters as simpler people, etc. It’s frustrating.
Once you can get past that, there are still the story elements dealing with colonialism and the entire idea of a white woman (savior?) coming in to teach English to the children and wives of King Mongkut along with the British way so they can all act more civilized. It’s a struggle, but at the same time, teachers teach. She’s just doing her job, right?
Past all the struggles, there is the core of the story involving the complex relationship between Anna and King Mongkut. Irene Dunne and Rex Harrison are great in their roles, and we enjoy the back and forth that we get with them as they initially try to figure each other out and test each other, pushing boundaries, then eventually becoming trusted friends.
We discuss the other players, the story and how this iteration differs from other versions, how Cromwell directed it, the look of it, and more. There’s a lot to discuss with this one. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Film SundriesLearn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Script Options
Flickers In Time’s review
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Anna and the King of Siam
(01:10) - Blackface and Problematic Depictions Then and Now
(05:41) - The Draw to This Story
(07:54) - White Savior vs. Personal Story
(10:03) - Doing Her Job
(12:12) - Anna vs. the King
(13:45) - The King's Struggle and Attitude
(15:23) - Rooted in Truth?
(16:52) - Lady Tiang and the Young Prince
(20:45) - Key Performances
(31:27) - Speaking Truth to Power
(33:17) - The Look
(36:05) - The Score
(37:02) - Why Has It Lasted So Long?
(39:17) - Credits
(40:09) - Other Adaptations
(43:18) - Awards
(45:16) - The Box Office
(45:49) - Last Thoughts
(47:02) - Coming Next Week • The Best Years of Our Lives
(48:02) - Letterboxd
(48:54) - Wrap Up

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The Reflecting Skin • A Conversation with Storyboard and Concept Artist Anson Jew • Movies We Like Aug 28, 2023

“Any vampires around these parts, Pa?”Talking About The Reflecting Skin with our guest, storyboard and concept artist Anson JewThere’s a lot going on in this story of childhood. It’s a story about vampirism and nuclear devastation. It’s about a town’s secrets and the perspective of children. Homosexuality in a time when it was far from being accepted. Dealing with loss. Growing old. Finding love. Writer/director Philip Ridley not only crafted a gorgeous film that’s alive from start to finish, but he crafted a story about childhood that captures all the strangeness and complexity we should expect and want in a story about a kid making his way in the world.
Storyboard and concept artist Anson Jew joins us to talk about this film, which has stuck with him since he first saw it. It’s a fantastic film and one certainly worth discussing. We have a great time talking with Anson about it, so check it out then tune in.
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Film SundriesLearn more about supporting The Next Reel’s Movies We Like through your own membership with The Next Reel.

Find Anson on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, IMDb, and his website
Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Transcript
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to Movies We Like • The Reflecting Skin
(02:37) - Meet Anson Jew
(18:54) - The Reflecting Skin

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Callsheet • Behind the Sites with Casey Liss Aug 25, 2023

Welcome back to Behind the Sites, a long-overdue return to one of our favorite series here at The Next Reel. This series celebrates the technology behind the entertainment industry... specifically, the sites and apps we use to learn about the movies and shows of which we call ourselves fans.
Casey Liss is a podcaster, developer, and writer from Richmond, Virginia. However, these days, it might be hard to know in which order to put those things. He's one-third of the Accidental Tech Podcast, a must-listen for principled nerds, and half of Analog(ue) on Relay FM. But he's here today to talk about his latest app, Callsheet, an entertainment industry search experience that might just earn a prized spot on the home screen of your phone.
Along the way, Casey talks about the challenges that come with attempting to peel back the features of an existing monolith in order to create an app that is fast, yet still seemingly feature-complete. We talk about what goes into working on an app that is dependent on a third-party API in an era that has rendered API a dirty, profit-seeking word. Oh, and we talk about Plex. For members, we talk a lot about Plex.
Links & Notes

Callsheet
Callsheet on the App Store
The Movie Database
TheMovieDB API
Casey did a guest spot on Mac Power Users with David Sparks and Stephen Hackett and, if you're as intrigued by a complex Plex set-up as I am, check out this episode and let's get ripping! (ripping our legal media acquired legally because we don't want to insinuate in any way that we condone that other sort of rubbish. -ed)

(00:00) - Welcome to Behind the Sites • Introducing Casey Liss and Callsheet
(01:18) - Taking on Big-IMDB
(04:30) - Peeling back IMDB
(07:46) - The Spoiler Problem, Solved
(10:26) - The Action-Reward Equation and Data Sources
(15:18) - The API Connundrum
(17:32) - Discoverable... by accident
(22:53) - We live in a Letterboxd World
(26:44) - Embracing the Privilege of the Indie Developer
(30:51) - Soooo.... Android, but really the iPad app

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Wuthering Heights • The Next Reel Aug 24, 2023

”No matter what I ever do or say, Heathcliff, this is me – now – standing on this hill with you. This is me, forever.”My, My, My... Those Heights, They Are A-Wuthering...Adapting Emily Brontë’s novel for the big screen isn’t an easy task, but it’s one that many people have taken on as “Wuthering Heights” has been adapted for the big or small screen over 30 times. And that doesn’t even take into account the operas, plays, musicals, radio adaptations, and more. As popular as the novel is, it’s a challenging one, and that’s certainly on display with William Wyler’s 1939 adaptation. It used less than half the chapters and hence modified many elements for the ending. Still, it works. In fact, we might even feel it works better than the novel. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our 1940 Academy Award Best Picture Nominee series with a conversation about Wyler’s 1939 film Wuthering Heights.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.There’s a lot left out, but the book is a challenging read and we feel that this adaptation captures the essence of the tragic romance, leaving out a lot of the more complex elements that work well on the page but not so much on the big screen. It’s still not our favorite, but with director Wyler helming it, we find plenty to connect to.
The performers are all delivering big but portrayals that work well with this big romance. Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon may not have gotten along on set but they work well as Heathcliff and Cathy. We also love David Niven and Geraldine Fitzgerald. In the scope of adaptation, the film leaves in some of the framing device that’s quite important for the novel. Here, we’re not so sure it’s needed. In fact, it largely feels like an unnecessary appendage.
The cinematography by Gregg Toland paired with Wyler’s effective direction bring life to the film. The black-and-white cinematography is full of darks and lights. It certainly deserved its Oscar win. And Alfred Newman’s beautiful score brings the tragic romance elements to the story right to the forefront. These elements all buoy the film for us, which otherwise may not be our cup of tea as much as some of the other Best Picture nominees. Speaking of, we do walk through the 10 nominees and debate which we’d pick to win. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Film SundriesLearn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Transcript
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Wuthering Heights
(01:34) - Wuthering
(02:38) - The Book
(04:09) - Brontë Sisters
(05:00) - Initial Thoughts
(09:11) - Adapting It
(11:56) - Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff
(15:44) - Cathy and Isabella
(18:21) - Framing Device
(22:22) - William Wyler
(28:52) - Scripting
(32:45) - Who's Our Protagonist?
(33:51) - Merle Oberon
(35:11) - Geraldine Fitzgerald
(36:11) - Flora Robson
(36:48) - David Niven
(39:24) - Gregg Toland
(45:36) - Alfred Newman's Score
(47:15) - 1940 Academy Awards
(58:17) - Credits
(59:13) - Other Adaptations
(01:01:49) - Awards
(01:03:33) - The Box Office
(01:04:16) - Last Thoughts
(01:04:38) - Coming Next Week • Anna and the King of Siam
(01:07:38) - Letterboxd
(01:09:09) - Wrap Up

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Of Mice and Men • The Next Reel Aug 17, 2023

“I remember about the rabbits, George.”Capturing Steinbeck and Americana on the Big ScreenHaving been writing novels for 10 years, it made sense that eventually, Hollywood would turn to John Steinbeck’s novels as a source for the silver screen. The first film to make the transition was Of Mice and Men, a novella he originally wrote as a ‘playable novel’ and then as a play itself. To that end, it was already the perfect size for adapting. And to that end, the film works just as well as the story. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our series on 1940 Academy Award Best Picture nominees with a conversation about Lewis Milestone’s 1939 film Of Mice and Men.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.For a relatively simple story, a lot happens and the story works through a variety of topics. How does the story handle a character with an intellectual disability and what does it say about those who take care of others, whether it’s this character or an aging dog? What about race relations? (To that end, it may be less pointed than the book but the film still feels like it handles race better than Gone With The Wind does.) The script changes how Mae – the only female character in the book and the only one with any real presence in the film – fits into the story. Here, we get a sense of the tragedy of this character, which does a lot to paint the gender differences in this place at this time. There’s also the moralistic, religious, and humanistic angles we discuss.
The casting is fantastic. Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney, Jr. play our two leads and deliver complex, compassionate performances that are the beating heart of this film. Betty Field plays Mae and rounds the character out with resonance and depth that never were on Steinbeck’s pages, even if possibly inferred. The rest of the cast fits impeccably into their roles. Lewis Milestone directs and handles the story effectively and efficiently. And having Aaron Copeland score the film only enhances its feel of Americana.
This film stands strong as a version of this film that’s worth remembering. It’s definitely one of the best films of the year and certainly worthy of its Best Picture nomination. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Film Sundries

Learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.
Find places to watch this at JustWatch
Transcript
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Of Mice and Men
(01:10) - 1940 Academy Award Best Picture Nominees Series Continued
(02:15) - Revisiting the Novella
(03:51) - Deceptively Small Story
(05:09) - Initial Thoughts, Play, and Expanding Story
(09:02) - Big Issues
(12:48) - Caretaking
(18:32) - More on the Dog
(22:21) - Comparison to Lenny
(23:34) - Good Deed?
(24:20) - Parallel Issues
(25:18) - Lenny as Sympathetic Character
(26:21) - Race
(32:29) - Gender Issues and Mae
(35:30) - Kindness to Mae?
(38:45) - Lewis Milestone
(41:54) - Cast
(47:55) - Title Origins
(49:29) - Credits
(50:25) - Other Versions
(51:54) - Awards
(55:24) - The Box Office
(56:28) - Last Thoughts
(56:52) - Coming Next Week • Wuthering Heights
(58:18) - Letterboxd
(01:00:23) - Wrap Up

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Love Affair • The Next Reel Aug 10, 2023

“We’re heading into rough seas, Michel.”A Love Story That Stands the Test of Time
It’s interesting that Leo McCarey’s 1939 film Love Affair largely fell into obscurity due to both slipping into the public domain and to McCarey’s own remake in 1957 as An Affair to Remember. It largely was thanks to Nora Ephron including mention of both films in her 1993 classic Sleepless in Seattle that interest in this original rose again. Now, thanks to a stunning restoration in 2020, the film looks brand new and is certainly worth discovery, or re-discovery. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our series on the 1940 Academy Awards • Best Picture nominees with a conversation about McCarey’s 1939 film Love Affair.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.
We both were more familiar with the story from McCarey’s 1957 remake An Affair to Remember starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, but the core of the story remains largely unchanged. That even holds true in Warren Beatty’s mess of a remake in 1994 (also called Love Affair), which says something about the strength in the story. We have a few issues with the story, however – the need to wait six months before seeing each other again to prove they’re able to survive on their own seems a bit plotted, and Terry’s desire to not tell Michel about her accident until she’s able to walk to him seems thin. But are they? There’s clearly meaning behind their motivations in both cases. Is it just that we actually want it spelled out more, which we rarely actually want? Or is it that we don’t quite feel they sell it? It’s hard to gauge, so in the end these points don’t break things for us. They just give us pause. It’s hard to get past that ending though. It’s perfect and just rips your heart out before putting it right back. Amazing stuff. There’s a reason it’s become iconic. And how great are Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer? We discuss them a bit in relation to Grant and Kerr. Who works better for us? Leo McCarey was stepping away from his comedies. How does he do with this material? We also talk about the controversies with the script and why the production code wouldn’t pass it initially. And let’s not forget the songs!It’s a great film and easily one to fall in love with. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!Film Sundries
Learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

Watch this on Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Script Options
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Love Affair
(01:07) - WC Fields In-Joke
(01:51) - Initial Thoughts
(04:19) - Getting Swept Up?
(06:40) - Story Issues
(14:50) - Comparisons to Remakes
(19:35) - Charles Boyer
(23:06) - Maria Ouspenskaya
(26:04) - Irene Dunne
(29:10) - Comedy Beats – Romantic Comedy?
(30:46) - Leo McCarey
(33:53) - Story Origins
(35:34) - Boyer and Dunne
(36:29) - Initial Rejection
(38:54) - Credits
(39:50) - Remakes, Etc.
(42:21) - Awards
(43:05) - The Music
(43:53) - The Box Office
(44:58) - Last Thoughts
(45:46) - Coming Next Week • Of Mice and Men
(47:48) - Letterboxd
(50:05) - Wrap Up

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Dark Victory • The Next Reel Aug 03, 2023

“When you get inside my head, see if you can find any sense in it.”Bette Davis Dealing with and Dying From GliomaThere’s a strength in storytelling that can exist in disease films because we’re following a person as they’re going through a very difficult period in their life that could very well end in death. That’s one of the elements that drew Bette Davis to the play “Dark Victory,” of which she had a hard time convincing Jack Warner that audiences would love it. He was wrong and she proved correctly, however, that a tragic story with your protagonist dying from the disease could draw in the audience. It clearly worked in this case as it lead to several Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our 13th season of the podcast with a full year looking at various awards categories through the decades, starting right here in our series on the 1940 Academy Awards • Best Picture as we discuss Edmund Goulding’s 1939 film Dark Victory.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.At the heart of this film, it’s really Bette Davis and she fully delivers. She’s very much playing the headstrong socialite we’d see often in her films, though the difference here is right out of the gate, she’s diagnosed with glioma, a form of brain tumor. Through her performance, we see her go through many of the stages of grief as she first fights against the fact that she’s sick and finally comes to terms and accepts it. It’s quite a ride, and it works because of Davis.
She couldn’t get there without the script, however, and its structure allows this film to be about her battling the disease, not as a side element in the story. From the start, she’s suffering from her glioma. It plays in unexpected ways, and lets us take the journey with her. Of course the journey wouldn’t be complete without the rest of the players, and they deliver. Geraldine Fitzgerald, George Brent, Ronald Reagan. Only Humphrey Bogart seems out of place here.
It’s a strong entry into the big studio year of 1939 that saw a lot of successful films of all genres stand out, and this one deservedly was nominated for Best Picture. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Film SundriesLearn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Transcript
Original Material
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Dark Victory
(01:32) - 1940 Academy Awards • Best Picture Nominees
(03:00) - Initial Thoughts
(04:10) - Bette Davis
(09:35) - Judy and Dr. Steele
(11:52) - Figuring Out the Disease
(14:56) - Obligation to Inform... or Not
(19:03) - Developing Relationships
(20:51) - Structure
(24:36) - Her Final Moments and the Decision
(32:54) - Geraldine Fitzgerald as Anne
(36:20) - Judy's Socialite World
(38:00) - Horses and Bogey
(41:06) - Ronald Reagan
(42:30) - The Production
(44:53) - Edmund Goulding
(48:04) - Credits
(48:59) - Remakes
(50:41) - Awards
(52:04) - The Box Office
(53:10) - Last Thoughts
(53:33) - Coming Next Week • Love Affair
(54:29) - Letterboxd
(55:25) - Wrap Up

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The Thin Red Line • A Conversation with Cinematographer Ross Riege • Movies We Like Jul 31, 2023

See the list for our entire lineup for SEASON 13 on our Letterboxd page!
“We're living in a world that's blowing itself to hell as fast as everybody can arrange it.”Talking About Terrence Malick’s 1998 film The Thin Red Line with our guest, cinematographer Ross RiegeWhile Terrence Malick’s war film came out five months after Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, it couldn’t be more different. They’re both exceptional films, but Malick’s takes a more pensive, thoughtful, esoteric approach with his. At its basest level, the story follows a military unit on the Melanesian island of Guadalcanal as they work to take it from Japanese troops. While that story’s there, in Malick’s hands, the film is more about the balance between man and nature and how the war machine destroys men’s souls.
Not only is the way Malick crafts the story haunting, it’s also done in a way that fits perfectly with his themes and views. Cinematographer Ross Riege is a big fan, having first seen this and a number of other Malick films when prepping Redland, an early film he worked on, as well as his big break as cinematographer for The Kings of Summer. It’s fitting then that that film’s look was described as feeling Malickian.
We talk more with Riege about his career, starting with smaller films and moving up to films like Weird: The Al Yankovic Story and the TV series The Afterparty. We also get some impressions from him on the switch from film to digital, working with his crews, and more. It’s a fantastic conversation about a great movie with a great cinematographer.
Film Sundries

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Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Ross on the web and on Instagram
Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Script Options
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to Movies We Like • The Thin Red Line
(01:10) - Meet Cinematographer Ross Riege
(06:38) - Digital vs. Film
(08:02) - Each Project's Look
(10:00) - Reputation with His Keys
(11:16) - Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line
(13:07) - Malick Voiceover
(17:08) - Trusting Audience or Artistic Confidence
(19:53) - Maintaining Artistic Integrity in a World of Commerce
(22:51) - Capturing Pristine Nature Again and Again
(25:36) - Overall Thoughts of the Movie
(28:04) - John Toll and This Film's Look
(32:25) - Property and the Soul
(35:01) - Recognizing You're Capturing Greatness
(37:13) - Actors and Their Director
(40:48) - Malick's Vision
(42:20) - Stepping Away
(44:34) - The Post-Color Process
(48:10) - Performances
(50:26) - Documentary Feel
(50:58) - Great Contemporary War Films
(54:51) - Capturing the Malick Look
(01:01:14) - Awards
(01:03:02) - Box Office
(01:03:40) - Wrapping Up

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The Wizard of Oz • Rebroadcast • The Next Reel Jul 27, 2023

"Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore!"REBROADCASTStill a ClassicVictor Fleming didn’t just direct two movies in 1939, he directed two of what many consider to be the greatest films made – Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. Where the former, though, has more problems to contend with in today’s society, what with its depiction of slavery and race in the South during the Civil War, the latter is nothing but pure cinematic joy. Seen by more people than any other movie, The Wizard of Oz has become infused in who we are. Quotes from the movie can pop up in everyday conversation without people even realizing they’re quoting it. The songs – particularly “Over the Rainbow” – have been burned into our brains at an early age. It truly is a shining example of what cinema can be. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our ‘films of 1939’ series with one of the great cinema achievements, Flemings’ The Wizard of Oz.
Here’s a Look Into Our ConversationWe talk about what makes this film so great and why it’s lasted so long, looking at everything from the story to the music to Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. We discuss Fleming as the main director putting the film together, the 14 writers tasked with bringing this script to life, and L. Frank Baum, the author of the original Oz stories. We chat about the actors – Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan, Margaret Hamilton, Jerry Maren, the Singer Midgets and more (not to mention Terry the dog as Toto) – and look at what they all bring to the table here.
We chat about Buddy Gillespie’s special effects, Adrian’s costumes, Harold Rosson’s cinematography, Herbert Stothart’s music adaptation, Harold Arlen’s & Yip Harberg’s songs and Mervyn LeRoy’s & Arthur Freed’s producing, tying together all the elements they each were responsible for. And we comment on the popularity of the film, chat about it being a gay icon, and look at how it started at a loss but ended up making bank over the decades.
It’s one of the greats and certainly one we have a lot of passion about discussing. Check it out!
Film Sundries

(00:00) - 1940 Academy Awards • Best Picture Intro
(01:11) - Welcome to The Next Reel • The Wizard of Oz
(01:40:43) - Wrap Up

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Stagecoach • Rebroadcast • The Next Reel Jul 20, 2023

"We’re the victims of a foul disease called social prejudice, my child."REBROADCASTFord Delivers A Classic WesternWhen John Ford decided to helm Stagecoach in 1939, he hadn’t done a western since his days in the silent film era. Yet it was this film, along with his relationship with John Wayne, that would lead to him making arguably some of the greatest westerns in cinema. Yet with this film, it was really more of a chance to make a western that could be a bit more serious, not just another b-level shoot-em-up, while still making a movie that was pretty light and entertaining. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our series on films from 1939 with Ford’s Stagecoach.
Here’s a Hint at Our ConversationWe talk about John Ford as a director and what he was trying to do with this film, pointing out some Ford-isms along with debating his strength as a filmmaker. We chat about Dudley Nichols’ script adapted from Ernest Haycox’s short story, enjoying what he did with the nine principal characters in the film, even if there were some pacing issues throughout. We discuss the cinematography of Bert Glennon and the way he and Ford shot the action sequences. We chat about stuntman and stunt coordinator Yakima Canutt, marveling at the amazing stunts he performs in the film while also feeling pretty horrified at the methods he devised to get the horses to fall on camera. And we touch on the cast, touching on what each of them bring to their roles.
It’s a fun film, even if not one of our favorites, but still gives us a great movie to talk about. So check it out then tune in!
Film Sundries

(00:00) - 1940 Academy Awards • Best Picture Intro
(01:11) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Stagecoach
(01:13:15) - Wrap Up

This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5640170/advertisement

Ninotchka • Rebroadcast • The Next Reel Jul 17, 2023

“I should hate to see our country endangered by my underwear."REBROADCASTGreta Garbo Smiles! And It’s a Delight!Taking a completely different turn from last week’s Civil War epic, Ninotchka is a very light comedy by Ernst Lubitch dealing with Russians in their post-Revolution society. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our film about the great films of 1939 with Lubitch’s Ninotchka.
Here’s a Hint at What We DiscussWe talk about the wonderfully funny script by Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder and Walter Reisch based on the original story by Melchior Lengyel, and look at why the comedy works so well in a film like this. We chat about Greta Garbo as the titular character and how wonderful she is, and we look at the rest of the brilliant cast – Melvyn Douglas, Ina Claire, Bela Lugosi, Sig Ruman, Felis Bressart, Alexander Granach and others – as we discuss what they bring to the table. We also touch on Garbo and her retirement from the business. And we chat about Lubitsch and his “Lubitsch Touch” and what that means in context of this film.
It’s a fun film that’s very easy to watch. Check it out then tune in!
Film Sundries

(00:00) - 1940 Academy Awards • Best Picture Intro
(01:11) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Ninotchka
(47:15) - Wrap Up

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Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One • The Next Reel • Member Bonus Jul 13, 2023

“The world is changing. Truth is vanishing.”
Ethan Hunt and Co. Are Back
For our July member bonus episode, we wrap up our conversation about Ethan Hunt and his impossible missions. For Christopher McQuarrie’s latest entry into the franchise, Ethan and his team are up against none other than a form of sentient AI they call The Entity. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we close our chats in our Mission: Impossible series – at least until next year’s conclusion to this story – with McQuarrie’s 2023 film Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.
It’s a great entry to the franchise, and we certainly spoil it. The characters are great, the action sequences are a thrill, the story works well. If anything, there are elements that feel clunky within some of the exposition, the camera work, the editing and the structure. Is this because McQuarrie shot two lengthy films back to back and might’ve been overwhelmed? Is it because he’s trying to create a unique look and feel for each of his films in this franchise? Is he trying to create tension with creative shots that just aren’t working? It’s hard to say, but we certainly noticed it.
The story largely focuses on a form of AI that grows some form of sentience that partners up with one of Hunt’s old adversaries then works to control the world. With the zeitgeist around AI right now, it’s quite fitting. We discuss the nature of this story today – and the fact that they were originally intending it to be released two full years ago – and why it works in context of this world. It feels like a perfect next step for the franchise.
We talk about elements brought in from previous films that we noticed as well, and walk through the action beats. There’s a lot to discuss. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
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Film Sundries
Learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

This is a member bonus episode that we’re releasing to everyone so you can get a taste or the extra content our members get. We'd love it if you became a member to support our show, but you’d love it because of everything you get. We have monthly member bonus episodes like this that only members can access. You also get ad-free episodes, access to members-only Discord channels, and early releases for every episode. And you get to vote on the movies we discuss in our members only episodes! What can we say? It pays to be a member. Learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership — visit TruStory FM.

(00:00) - Member: Why You Should Become a Member
(02:14) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
(03:30) - Dead Reckoning Meaning
(04:44) - Initial Thoughts & Spoiler Warning
(05:38) - Connective Tissue
(07:57) - Ethan's Backstory
(11:29) - AI
(20:36) - Exposition, Script, Editing, Framing
(29:49) - Cinematography
(31:26) - Kittredge and Recurring Elements
(37:30) - Hunt's Team
(49:33) - Villains and Other Roadblock Characters
(56:44) - One Last Grace Note
(58:12) - Major Action Beats
(01:13:53) - Inspirations
(01:14:54) - Score and Bassett
(01:16:12) - Credits
(01:16:59) - Sequels
(01:17:39) - Awards
(01:18:14) - The Box Office
(01:19:21) - Last Thoughts
(01:19:36) - Coming Next Time • Dark Victory
(01:22:42) - Letterboxd
(01:24:00) - Wrap Up

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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington • Rebroadcast • The Next Reel Jul 10, 2023

“You’re not a Senator, you’re an honorary stooge."REBROADCASTCapra’s Film Stands As Strong As EverIt’s rare to find a film from 75 years ago that feels relevant still in today’s world, but Frank Capra’s 1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is one of those films. Corruption in the Senate? Check. Corporate interests secretly working their own machinations behind the scenes to get their political puppets to do their bidding? Check. Cynical office staff who are only interested in making a buck? Check. Sad to say that the only thing that doesn’t feel modern is that a politician like James Stewart’s titular character could actually exist. Or at least survive in today’s political world. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue with our great films from 1939 series with Capra’s fantastic film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Here’s What We Chat AboutWe talk about how much we love this film and why, highlighting everything aforementioned. We chat about Stewart and Jean Arthur as the perfect leads for this film, aided by the wonderful supporting cast including Edward Arnold, Harry Carey, Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell and more. We discuss how the Washington, D.C. press and the real Senators received the film compared with the general public. And we discuss the people behind the cameras with Capra and what they bring to the table – Joseph Walker, Lionel Banks, Dimitri Tiomkin, Sidney Buchman, Lewis R. Foster and more.
It’s a top notch film that still speaks to its audiences, all while avoiding being cheesy while full of honesty. We love it. Make sure you watch this one and then tune in!
Film Sundries

(00:00) - 1940 Academy Awards • Best Picture Intro
(01:11) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
(59:34) - Wrap Up

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Goodbye, Mr. Chips • Rebroadcast • The Next Reel Jul 06, 2023

"Give a boy a sense of humor and a sense of proportion and he’ll stand up to anything."REBROADCASTLearning Lessons That Last a Lifetime With Mr. ChipsRobert Donat defied the odds and beat both Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart for the Best Actor Oscar in the 1940 Academy Awards with his portrayal of Mr. Chips in Sam Wood’s Goodbye, Mr. Chips. It’s a movie that celebrates school heroes everyone had (or should’ve) and connects in its ability to reflect back on the nostalgia of one’s life. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our series on films from 1939 with Wood’s film.
Here’s What We Chat AboutWe talk about how we felt about the film and, despite any issues we had, still found it affecting. We chat about Robert Donat and Greer Garson, both of whom really give touching and honest performances. We touch on Wood as the director and what he brings to the table. We discuss the story and why stories about teachers can work so well, and why they work on us in particular. And we look at the magnificent work Jack Dawn did with the hair and makeup to bring Mr. Chips to life over the course of his 60+ years, from new hire to headmaster.
It’s a touching film that works to connect us with this character and reminds us what we love about the best ‘great teacher’ movies. Check it out!
Film Sundries

(00:00) - 1940 Academy Awards • Best Picture Intro
(01:11) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Goodbye, Mr. Chips
(01:02:42) - Wrap Up

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Gone With the Wind • Rebroadcast • The Next Reel Jul 03, 2023

See the list for our entire lineup for SEASON 13 on our Letterboxd page!
“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn."
REBROADCASTFinding Rhett and Scarlet Less RelevantConsidering the racially-charged climate of the US right now, it’s oddly perfect timing that we’re starting our 1939 series with Gone With The Wind, a film as technically brilliant to look at as it is hard to watch because of it’s portrayal of slavery and the ‘lost cause’ Southern view of the Civil War. It certainly gives us a lot to talk about in this episode! Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we dive into Victor Fleming’s Gone With The Wind.
Here’s What We Chat AboutWe talk at length about the position of the film in cinematic history and how that contrasts with what it’s portraying and how we feel about that, noting that perhaps this film is one that should be considered in the same camp as Song of the South. And we look at what problems we have with the story and why it makes us feel uncomfortable, even if the story itself can be enjoyed when taken out of historical context.
Focusing more on the film itself, we look at the actors – Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Olivia de Havilland, Leslie Howard, Thomas Mitchell, Hattie McDaniel and more – how they got their parts and how well they work for us. We look at lots of bit players and talk about where they’ve since popped up. We talk about the context of 1939 and how the studio system worked. We talk about the three directors who contributed to this film – George Cukor, Victor Fleming and Sam Wood – as well as the producing kingpin who really is the one responsible for getting this film made the way he wanted: David O. Selznick. We chat about other key crew who helped bring this film to life, including Max Steiner, Yakima Canutt, William Cameron Menzies and Walter Plunkett.
And we marvel at how much money this film has taken in over its lifetime and deliberate over whether it should still be able to make money or if it should be locked away now due to its painful portrayal of the period. It’s a long film but a film well worth discussing because of these factors. Tune in!Film Sundries

(00:00) - 1940 Academy Awards • Best Picture Intro
(01:53) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Gone With the Wind
(01:20:49) - Wrap Up

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Mission: Impossible – Fallout • The Next Reel Jun 29, 2023

See the list for our entire lineup for SEASON 13 on our Letterboxd page!
“The IMF is like Halloween, a bunch of grown men in rubber masks playing trick-or-treat.”Hunt Is Back, and He’s Better Than Ever... ReallyIt’s crazy that we’re at the sixth film in the franchise and it’s the best of the bunch. How does that happen? Likely, it’s because Cruise has been driving this franchise not just as star but also producer from the start, but it’s hard to dismiss the fact that writer/director Christopher McQuarrie returned. His sense of this story, these characters, and this world seems to fit hand to glove as much as Cruise does. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Mission: Impossible series with McQuarrie’s 2018 film Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.It’s like they take all the greatest moments from the previous five films and find ways to integrate reworked versions of them into this film. It’s fantastic. We walk through the various action beats in this film, starting with the over two-and-a-half minute single shot of Hunt and Walker doing a HALO jump into Paris. And it only gets better from there.
Hunt is dealing with Solomon Lane again, but we’re also adding John Lark into the mix. It’s a bit of a mystery as to who he is, but... not really. It’s hard to buy Lark, aka August Walker, as anything but villainous. Is it the way Henry Cavill plays him? Or is he just written that way? Regardless, he makes for a great villain and works exceptionally well in this franchise.
There’s also the return to Julia as a key part in Hunt’s life. It plays well, and clearly is an important point to Hunt learning to navigate his life when it comes to saving the world vs. saving those he loves. That plays not only into Julia’s story but also Ilsa, as clearly something is developing here with her in her return.
All in all, it’s a great film that shows insane stunt work by Cruise, a broken ankle, great characters, a thrilling and engaging story, and a mystery as to where it could go from here. We love it. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Film SundriesLearn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Script Options
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Mission: Impossible – Fallout
(01:56) - Title and Leveling Up
(05:59) - Realism and Receiving the Message
(09:45) - Realism in the Franchise
(12:13) - Halo Jump and the Oner
(17:00) - Flying a Helicopter
(22:46) - Cut Stunt Sequence
(26:56) - Bathroom Fight
(29:56) - Bringing Ilsa Back
(33:31) - Some Great Shots and Camera Moves
(38:33) - Car Chase
(42:13) - Masks and Reveals
(43:08) - Too Obvious?
(48:04) - Steps Ahead
(49:14) - Last Great Foot Chase
(53:44) - Camp and Copters
(55:20) - Bringing Julia Back In
(59:11) - Henry and His Stunts
(01:01:31) - Longest Shots in Franchise
(01:03:18) - Strength in Capturing Stunts
(01:05:45) - Cost of a Broken Ankle
(01:06:37) - Lorne Balfe's Score
(01:08:27) - A Few Quick Things
(01:10:07) - Credits
(01:10:54) - Awards
(01:13:18) - The Box Office
(01:14:14) - Last Thoughts
(01:15:09) - Coming Next Month • Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One
(01:17:22) - Letterboxd
(01:19:28) - Wrap Up

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Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation • The Next Reel Jun 22, 2023

See the list for our entire lineup for SEASON 13 on our Letterboxd page!
“We’re kind of formulating a plan B, although technically it’s a plan C.”Everyone’s Gone Rogue in Rogue NationChristopher McQuarrie did some uncredited rewrites on Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, though he’d worked with Tom Cruise a number of times in the past, having written and directed Jack Reacher then writing Edge of Tomorrow. Clearly, his strength as a storyteller, perhaps more than his friendship with Cruise, led Cruise to offer him the opportunity to help the fifth Mission: Impossible film. That opportunity to not only work on the script but also direct seemed to be the right formula Cruise (perhaps more the producer than the star) was looking for to bring the franchise into right zone he’d been looking for from the start. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our journey through our Mission: Impossible series with a conversation about McQuarrie’s 2015 film Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.Right out of the gate, we’re given an exciting action sequence, one which had been advertised relentlessly to draw audiences to the film to see Cruise hanging off the side of a plane. For real. It’s insane but makes for a great start to the movie. Plus, we get more comedy with the team and intrigue as the IMF gets shut down by the Senate, which puts Ethan on the run. It’s a thrill of a way to start the movie that shows we’re on the right track now.
The team is great, keeping Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, and the ever-consistent Ving Rhames from the last film. It’s our first full repeat, and it works well. We do have questions about the roles of each of the team members though. Are they given enough delineation between them? Is this, perhaps, why Jeremy Renner doesn’t return?
The big surprise is the addition of Rebecca Ferguson who proves herself Cruise’s equal and brings tremendous chemistry as a British spy working both with and against Hunt at seemingly every turn. She’s incredibly compelling and is stunning in that dress.
Of course the villain has to work for the team to be of any interest, and we’re fans of what Sean Harris is bringing as ex-MI6 operative Solomon Lane, the head of The Syndicate. He’s compelling, and the plot moves in exciting directions dictated by him. It’s a thrill of a film in a franchise that only gets better. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Film SundriesLearn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
(02:11) - Initial Thoughts
(04:06) - The Actor's Control
(07:14) - Opening Sequence and Tone
(09:28) - Ill-Defined Roles
(14:35) - Alec Baldwin
(17:27) - Jeremy Renner
(24:22) - The Opera Sequence and Rebecca Ferguson
(35:44) - Joe Kraemer Using Turandot
(37:56) - Water Work
(43:48) - Car Chase
(49:16) - London and Resolution
(55:01) - Tapping Into Chinese Market
(58:19) - Credits
(59:05) - Awards
(01:01:42) - The Box Office
(01:02:30) - Last Thoughts
(01:04:22) - Coming Next Week • Mission: Impossible – Fallout
(01:06:57) - Letterboxd
(01:08:45) - Wrap Up

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Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol • The Next Reel Jun 15, 2023

See the list for our entire lineup for SEASON 13 on our Letterboxd page!
“You actually said that out loud? ‘Mission accomplished?’”Ethan Hunt Shifts Gears and Finds His GrooveBrad Bird’s on board the franchise, getting a chance to not only make his first live action film but also to do so in a major franchise with giant set pieces and mega-stars. Perhaps that’s what the franchise needed, after all of Cruise’s antics around the time the third film was released. There was even talk that this film might have been his last as the franchise lead, turning it over to Jeremy Renner from this point forward. But things worked out, perhaps because of Bird’s injection of fun and levity he brought, and the franchise shited to something that would only continue improving. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our M:I series with a conversation about Bird’s 2011 film Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.This film is a blast from start to finish. We have a great team that feels cohesive both as a team in context of the film working to solve their mission as well as the actors who actually have chemistry and blend well. There’s a lot of play with the spy tech here as we get some incredible gadgets, but we also get to see what happens when our spies have to think outside the box when gadgets break or malfunction. The set pieces in this film all bring new and different energy to the franchise and the film, particularly the centerpiece of the film – Cruise scaling the side of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It’s insane and we’re here for all of it. We also have a villain that feels wonderfully villainous. Could we have used more of Michael Niqvist? Sure. But what we get works well for us. Even his threat to launch a nuke and start WWIII, while at the level of Bond villains, has a bit of a grounded feel to it.
We talk a bit about the end of Cruise/Wagner Productions, and also ponder why Bird hasn’t had a chance to make many more live action features. Regardless, it’s a great conversation about a film that certainly set a new high bar for this franchise. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Film Sundries

Learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.
Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Script Options
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
(01:55) - Initial Thoughts and Brad Bird
(06:05) - The Team
(10:15) - Prison Sequence
(12:51) - IMF Technology
(16:47) - Disavowing Everybody
(18:27) - Brandt's Backstory
(20:40) - Kremlin Infiltration and Cobalt
(23:55) - Villain and Motivations
(29:06) - Kremlin Hallway
(30:55) - Russian Police
(33:16) - Recurring Character
(34:51) - Dubai and Teamwork
(40:16) - Building Stunts
(43:53) - Sandstorm Car Chase
(46:01) - BMW
(47:15) - Mumbai and the Final Confrontation
(52:49) - Political Connection?
(54:19) - Credits
(55:05) - Awards
(57:45) - The Box Office
(59:00) - Looks Great
(59:43) - Brad Bird
(01:03:08) - Coming Next Week • Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
(01:05:36) - Letterboxd
(01:07:26) - Wrap Up

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Working Girl • A Conversation with Writer/Producer Rachel Lewis • Movies We Like Jun 12, 2023

“You don’t get anywhere in this world by waiting for what you want to come to you. You make it happen.”Talking About Working Girl with our guest, writer/producer Rachel LewisMike Nichols’ film has been in all of our lives for decades now, and there are reasons it stands out as a classic. It’s a Cinderella story dealing with the sexism in the 80s workplace, and how one woman proves she has the stuff to break out of the secretary role in which she’d been stuck. It’s full of laughs, but also full of heart. And lest we forget the magnificent big 80s hair. It’s a sight to behold.
Sure, the movie has some dated elements that don’t work quite as well, but that’s looking through today’s eyes. For its place in the late 80s, it works perfectly and delivers a solid film. Writer/producer Rachel Lewis is a big fan, and we have a great conversation with her about the movie. We chat through the cast and the themes. And then there’s Carly Simon’s fantastic and anthemic song that’s as inspiring as the movie is itself.
Rachel tells us about her career and how she got started in the world of improv comedy before moving to LA and working her way into pitch meetings. As a writer, WGA team captain, and lot coordinator for the current strike, she also breaks down some of the reasons for it and what the writers are collectively working toward.
It’s a fantastic conversation about a great movie and the importance of this current strike. Check it out!
Film Sundries

Learn more about how you can support the WGA during their strike
Learn more about supporting The Next Reel’s Movies We Like through your own membership with The Next Reel.
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Rachel on the web, Instagram, Twitter, and IMDb
Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Script Options
Theatrical trailer
“Let the River Run” by Carly Simon music video
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to Movies We Like • Working Girl
(02:20) - Rachel's Background
(15:12) - Info About the WGA Strike
(26:51) - Working Girl
(29:40) - Some Elements of the Era
(30:12) - Showdown
(31:57) - Mergers and Acquisitions
(33:31) - Relationship with Alec Baldwin's Character
(34:40) - Getting Pidgeonholed
(36:20) - Mistakenly Stepping Into Her Old Role
(37:50) - Issues Then, Issues Now
(40:12) - Cast
(42:55) - Screenwriter Kevin Wade
(44:10) - Mike Nichols and The Ending
(46:08) - Let the River Run
(48:46) - Remakes, Other Properties
(52:29) - Strong Female Film with Signs It Was Made By a Man
(53:59) - Wrap Up

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Mission: Impossible III • The Next Reel Jun 08, 2023

“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.”Ethan’s back, and he’s getting married!It took some time to sort out the plans for this one’s script, and it wasn’t easy finding the director either. Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner did get there though, locking in TV showrunner JJ Abrams to co-write and helm the third in this franchise, making it his feature film debut. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our ‘Mission: Impossible’ series with a look at Abrams’ 2006 film Mission: Impossible III.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.The film starts with a gut punch, introducing us to the villain and setting up Ethan and his wife in a position as hostages. Philip Seymour Hoffman as Owen Davian, the villain, is perfect and the star of this film, but is it too early to start having issues? As someone much more in tune with co-writer/director JJ Abrams at the time, Pete was very much in the bag for being there with Abrams as he made the leap to the big screen. Andy didn’t have that connection so didn’t have as much of an interest in the film (or the franchise at this point after John Woo’s second entry). So does the opening work?
We talk about the vibe of the film and how, because of the romance between Ethan and Julia, it feels very different. Largely, it works and moves us past Woo’s mess of a film into something that feels better already. It’s just unfortunate that there are still so many issues. Perhaps the largest is that it never quite feels cinematic.
Regardless, it’s a fun entry into the franchise and gives us plenty to dig into. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!Film Sundries

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.
Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Script Options
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Mission: Impossible III
(00:59) - Initial Thoughts
(02:45) - Our Histories With J.J. Abrams
(05:20) - Tom Cruise Controversy
(06:41) - Making It Feel Different
(09:27) - The Cloverfield House Party
(15:24) - Back Into the Field
(18:05) - En Media Res Open
(18:40) - Revealing Disappointment
(21:21) - Twisty Plot
(22:23) - Maguffin and Mystery Box
(25:17) - Growing the Team
(28:51) - Rescue Sequence
(30:19) - Setting Up Brassell
(34:35) - Vatican and Masks
(38:01) - Catching Davian and the Plane
(40:59) - Bridge Attack
(44:22) - Retrieving the Rabbit's Foot
(55:05) - Getting It Made
(59:37) - Women in Peril
(01:04:51) - Credits
(01:05:50) - Awards
(01:08:28) - The Box Office
(01:09:20) - Last Thoughts
(01:16:00) - Coming Next Week • Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
(01:18:28) - Letterboxd
(01:20:18) - Wrap Up

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Mission: Impossible 2 • The Next Reel Jun 01, 2023

“Well, this is not ‘mission: difficult’, Mr. Hunt. This is ‘mission: impossible.’ ‘Difficult’ should be a walk in the park for you.”Hunt’s Back for Love, Doves, and Viruses!Returning for a sequel to their hit, Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner decided to explore the franchise with a different director – something they’d continue doing for the first five films. For this, they went with Hong Kong action filmmaker John Woo. Known for his over-the-top action set pieces, his use of slow motion, and his use of doves, it may seem a bit of a surprise that what Woo really wanted to inject this sequel with was romance. But is that where the film goes wrong? Or did it have issues even without the love story? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our ‘Mission: Impossible’ series with a conversation about Woo’s 2000 film Mission: Impossible 2.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.While it may seem natural to hire John Woo to direct a Mission: Impossible movie, it’s quite a surprise that this is the worst of the franchise. Woo’s filmmaking style doesn’t seem to fit. It feels like it’s a different universe than where the rest of the franchise takes place. But is that strictly Woo’s fault? Was it partially the story put together by Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga? Or the final script written by Robert Towne? It’s hard to say, but the romance Woo wanted to inject into the story certainly doesn’t help.
And that’s one of our primary complaints. Nya, as played by Thandiwe Newton, could be an interesting expert thief character but they drop that angle instantly and restrict her to love interest and pawn. Plus, by the time we get to the end of the film, they completely bail on Nya as a potential threat to humanity with the virus she’s carrying. No wonder Newton had such a miserable time making this movie.
But there’s also the angle of the virus and antidote. It seems very James Bond villain-esque, but even there it’s less about threatening the world and more about making a little money. Maybe it’s because we struggle with Dougray Scott as the villain, or the fact that his relationship with Newton’s Nya seems less likely than a possible gay relationship with his right hand man played by Richard Roxburgh.
Cruise does start his crazy stunts here with the wire work as he’s doing the free solo climb. His later stunts and action set pieces aren’t too bad, but they never feel great. It has its moments, but this film just never feels like it’s doing what it needs to be doing. Still, it makes for a fantastic conversation. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
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(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Mission: Impossible 2
(01:11) - Initial Thoughts
(03:07) - Less Espionage Thriller, More Stunts & Action
(05:07) - Bringing John Woo on Board
(06:58) - Director Shifts
(08:37) - The Romance
(14:24) - Less Exciting Action
(16:33) - Driving Scene
(17:27) - GoldenEye Comparisons
(18:51) - Limp
(19:21) - Sleazy, Not Sexy
(20:34) - Other Issues With Bathtub Scene
(22:48) - Dated Elements
(23:55) - The Team
(26:16) - Villains, Masks, and Tech
(31:21) - Brendan Gleeson
(32:47) - William Mapother
(34:14) - New Wolverine
(35:06) - The Break-In to Biocyte
(36:49) - Knife Blade
(38:25) - Feels Like TV
(41:22) - Losing Track of Nya
(43:05) - Braga and Moore
(44:52) - Robert Towne's Involvement
(45:26) - Credits
(46:20) - Awards
(48:08) - The Box Office
(49:14) - Last Thoughts
(50:19) - Woo-isms
(51:24) - Coming Next Week • Mission: Impossible III
(52:53) - Letterboxd
(55:37) - Wrap Up

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Mission: Impossible • The Next Reel May 25, 2023

“This whole operation was a mole hunt.”Tom Cruise Upgrades the TV Show with Mission: ImpossibleIt took Paramount a while to get the Mission: Impossible movie off the ground. They’d tried for years with the property, nearly getting a version made in the early 80s before it fell through because of an escalating budget. By the time Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner were ready to start their own producing work, the property was still floundering. Cruise, as a fan of the show, immediately recognized its strengths and thought it would be a great way to kick off Cruise/Wagner Productions. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our last series of the season – the Mission: Impossible films – with De Palma’s 1996 film Mission: Impossible.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.Pete has seen some of the original show but Andy never has. Does that play into how we approached this first film and our impressions? They certainly do change elements, after all. Jim Phelps is a traitor. It’s not so much a team story as it is an Ethan Hunt story. But it does feel like covert missions in this film, perhaps moreso than later in the franchise.
This is also the birthplace of Cruise as the action star always ready to do his own (often crazy) stunts. It’s not as large or over-the-top here, but it’s certainly still part of the story and who can forget him suspended on the cables dropping silently into CIA headquarters? That’s absolutely the centerpiece of this film and still is a thrill to watch. We also love the sequence with Hunt talking to Kittridge in the restaurant full of giant fish tanks, as well as the train sequence.
We struggle with some of the team elements, and definitely have issues with the flatness of that first team. Good thing they all get picked off! Some performances are better than others. Same goes for the effects of the day, but largely De Palma shows he knows how to use CGI and when, so it’s rarely a problem here. Speaking of De Palma, he’s bringing a lot of creative style to the story which feels key to the spy story being told. It’s a thrill to start this franchise with him really allowed to play.
All in, it’s a good start to this series. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
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(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Mission: Impossible
(01:45) - Initial Thoughts
(02:52) - Changes From the TV Show
(06:48) - Destroying the Team to Rebuild It
(08:01) - Luther
(09:21) - Ethan and Claire and Jim
(15:59) - Opening Mission Chat and the First Team
(19:00) - The New Team
(21:34) - Convoluted Story
(26:52) - Spy Story vs. Action Thriller
(30:12) - Finding the Modern Enemy
(31:58) - Kittridge
(37:48) - Brian De Palma
(42:03) - Effects
(44:58) - Producing, Stunts, and the Big Set PIece
(47:59) - Rat Ex Machina
(49:06) - The Train
(51:49) - Recurring Faces
(53:37) - Music
(56:26) - Credits
(57:13) - TV Show and Its Movies
(58:47) - Awards
(59:54) - The Box Office
(01:01:02) - Last Thoughts
(01:02:52) - Coming Next Week • Mission: Impossible 2
(01:04:41) - Letterboxd
(01:07:15) - Wrap Up

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There Will Be Blood • A Conversation with Filmmaker Uwe Boll • Movies We Like May 22, 2023

“I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed. I hate most people.”Talking About Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2007 film There Will Be Blood with our guest, filmmaker Uwe BollThere are many films filmmaker Uwe Boll could’ve picked to discuss with us on the show, but the most recent film that’s affected him as much as some of his all-time favorites is Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2007 film There Will Be Blood.
Before we dig into the film, we talk a bit about Boll’s career. Sure, he’s made some cinematic video game adaptations that weren’t received well by critics, but he’s also made some films that satirize modern society, whether in a comedic vein like Postal or a more serious tone like his Rampage films. There’s a change in society as to how people react to their buttons being pushed. That’s certainly reflected in films of the time. Who knows – some of that may come from the rise of the streaming services. Regardless, it all makes for a fascinating discussion.
From there, we jump into Anderson’s film. Boll has had some fairly unlikeable protagonists in his films, so we use that as a starting point with Daniel Plainview, the greedy, hateful protagonist of this film. Why is he still likable in some capacity? The film explores greed, capitalism, religion, family, and more. Everything stands out with the film as exemplary, from the performances (Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano are in top form) to Johnny Greenwood’s score to Robert Elswit’s cinematography. We look at the complex story and ponder that the film got made in the first place. A film that doesn’t have dialogue until nearly 15 minutes have passed? How did Anderson sneak it past the studio heads?
It’s a wonderful conversation with an insightful filmmaker. Tune in!
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Uwe Boll RAW podcast
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(00:00) - Welcome to Movies We Like • There Will Be Blood with Filmmaker Uwe Boll
(02:28) - Meet Uwe Boll
(13:16) - Dark Protagonists
(19:34) - Depicting the Time
(20:07) - Paul Dano
(20:50) - Killing the Fake Brother
(23:14) - Goosebumps
(26:43) - Discomfort in Filmmaking
(30:10) - Challenging Films
(33:12) - Cinematography
(34:16) - Why We Want to Make Movies
(37:08) - Today's Challenging System
(39:42) - PTA's Films and Frequency
(41:00) - Nothing Is Automatic
(45:44) - About America
(46:34) - Movies For Grown Ups
(50:14) - Awards
(53:37) - First Shift
(01:01:33) - Uwe's Podcast and Films
(01:04:06) - Wrap Up

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Peninsula • The Next Reel May 18, 2023

“In the end, no place was truly safe.”Zombies Are On the March in Peninsula!It’s no surprise that the studio and filmmakers wanted to return to the Train to Busan well after its initial success. And crafting a sequel that’s less an immediate sequel but more of a story in the same universe taking place four years after the original sounded intriguing. But a bigger budget and expanded scope doesn’t always mean better. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Train to Busan series with a conversation about Yeon Sang-ho’s 2020 film Peninsula.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.The film starts with a great premise. We’re following two survivors, now living in Hong Kong four years after South Korea was taken over by zombies, as they’re recruited by criminals to return to the country and find a truck full of money. Once they get there, however, things start shifting in ways that bring the story down. The plot contains many elements that are there simply for convenience. Even their own zombie rules, established in the last film and (mostly) adhered to, seem to be used as needed. With all of that, it seems like things aren’t great but passable for a genre zombie film.
Unfortunately, it goes downhill from there. We’re introduced to some young daughters who drive like Dominic Toretto in sequences that are on par with video game action. We get the rogue militia catching survivors and running their own zombie survival games. The characters in the first film were archetypes, but largely felt human. Here, they feel like poorly written and performed video game characters.
We do have a few that stand out and pique our interest. Our protagonist, for one, is easy to enjoy and watch go through this story. The political leader of the militia makes for an interesting psychological study, along with his sidekick. Even the mom who survived the attacks and made it this far with her daughters and father makes for an interesting story.
Unfortunately, they’re all saddled with a sloppy story and weak effects that just makes the whole thing a struggle. Still, it’s awfully fun to talk about. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
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(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Peninsula
(01:11) - Good and Bad
(07:07) - Its Place in the Timeline
(09:27) - Heist Story
(12:59) - Survivor Prejudice
(14:38) - Issues Upon Arrival
(26:01) - Removing Horror Elements
(28:34) - Unit 631
(36:05) - The Rescue
(38:23) - Mad Max Chase
(41:15) - Hero Resolution
(44:02) - Major Jane
(45:41) - Zombies and World Expansion
(51:07) - Credits
(51:56) - Remake
(52:29) - Awards
(54:12) - The Box Office
(55:05) - Last Thoughts
(56:50) - Coming Next Week • Mission: Impossible
(59:07) - Letterboxd

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Train to Busan • The Next Reel May 11, 2023

“You’re clearly an expert at leaving useless people behind.”The Zombie Hordes Are Headed Our Way!For his first live-action film, director Yeon Sang-ho decided to take on a horror film with confined locations, certainly something first time directors do when figuring the medium out. On the other hand, the film is a zombie movie with hundreds of zombiefied people, both on and off the high-speed train in the title. It’s fair to say he went big. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our short series looking at the Train to Busan films, starting with Yeon’s 2016 film Train to Busan.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.First off, we love zombie movies so this is an easy one to talk about, particularly because Yeon gets so much right. It’s a fun movie that sets things up quickly, then once the train ride starts and zombies appear, it never relents. The zombies themselves are well crafted and creepy in their movements. The film has some spectacular action set pieces as well.
On top of that, however, we get some great characters that keep us engaged. Sure, they are fairly archetypal, but they’re very likable. From our father-daughter pair at the heart of the story, to the husband and his pregnant wife, to the baseball player and his new cheerleader girlfriend, to the two older sisters, to the evil COO who can’t get past his own self-interest, each character delivers an essential part of the story.
There are some zombie rules developed in the world building that seem to be dropped or changed as the story needs them to be, but on the whole the movie’s an exciting thrill ride. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
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Movie Transcript
Theatrical trailer
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(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Train to Busan
(01:08) - Seoul Station and the Franchise
(03:56) - Zombies From Biotech
(07:32) - Prologue
(10:42) - Timeline
(14:05) - Driving Moment
(15:02) - Father and Daughter
(19:11) - Other Characters
(22:49) - Working in Archetypes
(29:48) - When Family Turns
(31:42) - The Zombies
(33:50) - Struggles with Zombie Rules
(39:43) - Lessons
(42:29) - Zombie Mobs
(45:30) - Director Yeon Sang-ho
(47:00) - Credits
(47:51) - Potential Remake
(49:39) - Awards
(50:58) - The Box Office
(52:00) - Last Thoughts
(52:15) - Coming Next Week • Peninsula
(54:09) - Letterboxd
(56:26) - Wrap Up

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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King • The Next Reel May 04, 2023

“A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we foresake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day!”There and Back AgainWith the success of Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy in 2003, he proved that epic fantasy storytelling could not only work, but that it could be worth the risk to film them all at once. It could be argued that the biggest downside to this production method – filming all three movies at once then releasing them separately over the course of three years – is that many awards voters didn’t feel each film deserved to be recognized individually. This film won all 11 Oscars for which it was nominated, but should the previous efforts also fared better? Regardless, Jackson delivers an epic trilogy, and this film’s extended edition certainly gives us a lot to enjoy. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our conversations about the Lord of the Rings trilogy with a conversation about Jackson’s 2003 film The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.The opening’s fantastic, but why does Smeagol talk the way he does when he’s morphed into Gollum? Andy has a bit of a quibble with that. We look at a number of the added scenes in the extended edition, focusing on the death of Saruman, the mouth of Sauron, and the relationship between Faramir and Eowen. How does the mad steward Denethor work for us? What about the massive armies and the battle at the end? Does it go a bit too far? We talk about a few of our favorite sequences – the lighting of the beacons, Shelob’s lair and Sam rescuing Frodo from the Orc tower, Sam picking Frodo up to carry him up Mount Doom. We continue looking at the roles of women in the films and how Jackson and his writing team handled expanding their roles. And then, of course, we ponder the plight of the cave trolls. The olyphaunts aren’t treated very well either, but we’ve seen cave troll abuse from the start.
No matter how many points we have to poke at in this film, it’s an easy one to love. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!Film Sundries

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Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Script Options
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Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
(03:14) - Initial Thoughts
(05:18) - Smeagol's Voice
(07:51) - Extended Edition
(16:11) - Crazy Denethor
(21:30) - Gollum
(24:54) - Digital Bits in Big Battle
(33:13) - Little Moments
(33:57) - Too Many Endings?
(37:47) - Roles for Women
(40:59) - Cave Trolls and Oliphaunts
(42:09) - Jackson-isms
(44:17) - Favorite Moments
(49:01) - Songs
(50:38) - Credits
(51:51) - Sequels, Etc.
(54:13) - Awards
(56:55) - The Box Office
(58:02) - Last Thoughts
(59:03) - Coming Next Week • Train to Busan
(01:00:48) - Letterboxd
(01:02:20) - Wrap Up

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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers • The Next Reel Apr 27, 2023

“I told you he was tricksy. I told you he was false.”The Epic Journey ContinuesWith his three epic films of one epic book shot back to back, it’s amazing that Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens found a path through the stories to build a film that works as well as this one does. Sure, it has elements of many famous middle films in trilogies, but it still stands strong. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our journey through Middle Earth with a conversation about Jackson’s 2002 film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.Here’s a hint at what we talk about.How well do the extended and new scenes work in this film? We quite like them. Our characters are split so we have a number of story threads to track. Do they all work? Lots of new characters. Gollum is often brought up as the biggest and most important addition to the film because of the process of motion capture with Andy Serkis to bring him to life. He’s astounding and certainly worth a discussion. Does the CGI still generally work? Jackson’s cinematic style comes through a few times. Does it always work? What about his epic battle sequence in Helm’s Deep? There’s plenty to talk about with these films and this franchise. And we talk again about the plight of the cave trolls. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!Film SundriesLearn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

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Script Options
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(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(01:18) - Story Construction
(08:29) - Extended Edition
(15:04) - Cave Trolls
(16:33) - Frodo, Sam and Gollum
(19:58) - Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas
(21:33) - Gimli Effects and Jokes
(23:13) - Cinematic Tricks
(30:58) - Gray to White
(34:08) - Releasing Theoden
(37:15) - Isengard and Fangorn and Ents
(43:48) - Faramir
(47:53) - Helm's Deep
(57:21) - Jackson's Moments of Realization in Death
(59:07) - Saying the Title
(01:00:11) - Name Change Requests
(01:01:26) - Race and Gender
(01:06:10) - Gollum's Final Moment
(01:10:16) - Credits
(01:11:06) - Awards
(01:15:36) - The Box Office
(01:16:58) - Last Thoughts and Middle Story
(01:18:52) - Coming Next Week • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
(01:21:47) - Letterboxd
(01:23:05) - Wrap Up

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Bambi • A Conversation with Screenwriter Todd Alcott • Movies We Like Apr 24, 2023

“Your mother can’t be with you anymore.”Talking About Bambi with our Guest Todd Alcott, ScreenwriterWhen released in 1942 during WWII, Walt Disney’s Bambi struggled to find its audience. It still did well enough for itself, but it wasn’t until its subsequent releases over the decades when Disney would bring its classics back to theatres where it really found its audience. Since that time, it’s often cited as one of the best animated films out there. Why does this simple film about a young deer learning about life in the forest work so well?
Screenwriter and graphic artist Todd Alcott joins us to talk about Bambi, one of his favorites. But as he says, even that didn’t happen over night. It took decades and multiple viewings to realize what the story was really about and why it clicked so suddenly. And for a film from 1942, there are elements within that make it feel somewhat subversive. It’s a story with little plot about a passive protagonist that doesn’t have any clearly established goal, after all. What screenwriting handbook said that was okay?
The film is about life, the mistakes we make, and how we try learning from them. It’s also a reminder that there’s no clear path for life. Just when things make sense, life changes the rules. It’s quite a lot to absorb from what seems like a simple little film. But that’s why we like it, and are thrilled that Todd brought it for us to talk about on Movies We Like.
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Original 1942 Theatrical trailer
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(00:00) - Welcome to Movies We Like • Bambi
(00:22) - Meet Todd Alcott
(12:53) - First Viewings of Bambi
(19:06) - Flower
(20:01) - Absentee Fathers
(20:48) - Beats
(22:02) - Gap After Mom Dies
(22:26) - Mystery of Life
(22:40) - What Does the Protagonist Want?
(24:01) - Trying to Figure Life Out
(26:18) - Always Changing, Always Learning
(28:09) - Males
(29:02) - Never Wavers in the Face of Ridicule
(30:41) - Life Continues to Be Surprising
(32:03) - Childhood in the 40s
(33:03) - Fitting It Into the Natural World
(34:22) - Characters Moving Through the World
(36:07) - Timeless Quality Yet Impossible to Make Now?
(42:38) - Capturing the Real World
(43:23) - Dogs and Deer
(45:27) - Twitterpated
(47:19) - Sequels and Remakes
(49:33) - Awards
(52:05) - Budget and Box Office
(53:18) - Liking 'Cute'
(54:37) - Having Kids
(56:12) - Finding Todd

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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring • The Next Reel Apr 20, 2023

“Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends.”We Finally Talk About Peter Jackson’s Epic Fantasy TrilogyConsidering our immense love for this film and the original material, it’s a bit surprising that it’s taken us into our twelfth season to discuss The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Peter Jackson and his amazing team believed in this world and crafted a script, found a cast, built a crew, and gave it their all to deliver a series of films that perfectly told a cinematic version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books while also creating a model for fantasy filmmaking as well as a model for massive scale film production. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our Lord of the Rings series with a conversation about Jackson’s 2001 film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Here’s a hint at what we talk about.It’s a challenge having a conversation about this trilogy as so much has already been said and documented about the production, etc. Still, it gives us a chance to discuss what Jackson brings to the table. How does his production style work in the film? We talk about the cast and many other options that are in the could-have-been version. We certainly prefer this one, but there are interesting actors to discuss. How do the extended and additional scenes work to expand the story for us? We love Howard Shore’s score so of course discuss it, but we are fans of what each department brings to the film as they’re all working on something they clearly were passionate about. There are some dated effects, but barely any and they don’t really bug us much. As for the creatures, they all stand out as impressive but we do have some questions about Jackson going all King Kong on us with the Cave Troll. And lest we forget the Sean Bean memes...We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!Film Sundries

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Script Options
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(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
(02:31) - Meme
(03:25) - Extended Edition
(10:43) - Ending
(13:22) - Fantasy Genre in 2001
(19:01) - Making a Trilogy as One
(21:52) - Highlights of the Production
(24:39) - Aged Effects?
(27:31) - No Hobbit First?
(29:14) - Intro Setup
(30:02) - Cinematic Fake Outs
(35:55) - Comedy in Fantasy
(41:22) - Cave Troll King Kong?
(46:22) - Cast
(57:26) - Orcs, Uruk-Hai, Goblins, Black Riders, Etc.
(59:38) - Industry vs. Environment
(01:01:39) - Gollum
(01:04:14) - Jackson's Style
(01:09:58) - Howard Shore
(01:11:14) - Jackson's Work
(01:19:58) - Credits
(01:20:50) - Awards
(01:29:42) - The Box Office
(01:31:08) - Last Thoughts
(01:31:28) - Coming Next Week • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(01:33:22) - Letterboxd
(01:34:33) - Wrap Up

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John Wick: Chapter 4 • The Next Reel Apr 13, 2023

“Friendship means little when it’s convenient.”Wrapping Up the John Wick SagaBefore the pandemic, director Chad Stahelski and team had been planning to film John Wick: Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 back to back. After delays, they ended up dropping the fifth chapter, opting to wrap everything up in the fourth film. So how does Chapter 4 work to continue expanding this world of assassins while also wrapping up John’s story? Do more story threads get dropped? And how do they amp up the stunt sequences throughout the film? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our John Wick series with a conversation about Stahelski’s latest entry, now in theatres, John Wick: Chapter 4.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.John’s back breaking the High Table’s rules, starting off right out of the gate in this film by killing The Elder. But why so little involvement by The Bowery King? His resolution at the end of Chapter 3 seemed to indicate that he was going to go after the High Table with John. Maybe that’s just another in the line of plot threads set up upon which they never execute. Or perhaps it was connected to the whittling down of two films into just this one. Who knows? Regardless, we would have loved more Laurence Fishburne.
That being said, we do get the introduction of many great characters in this new film. They’re great, and the actors portraying them are great. Plus, we have some spectacular action set pieces that are incredible. The staircase sequence is one for the ages, particularly the insane fall down its entire length.
We discuss some of Stahelski’s influences in the film, as well as several direct homages. And we discuss the impending spinoff film and TV show, while pondering if they’ll find a thread to pick up in order to continue the story again.
We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Film SundriesLearn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • John Wick: Chapter 4
(02:49) - RIP Lance Reddick... and Charon
(08:01) - Bill Skarsgård as the Villain
(15:40) - World Building
(21:03) - Story Elements Dropped
(24:53) - Signs of a Fifth?
(32:57) - Killa
(37:13) - Osaka Continental Fight
(47:09) - Diorama Fight
(51:09) - Roundabout Fight
(54:23) - Fight on the Steps
(56:37) - Homages and Influences and Comedy
(01:03:42) - New Cast
(01:07:37) - Change in Writers
(01:09:37) - Credits
(01:10:31) - Sequels and Spin-Offs
(01:14:49) - Awards
(01:15:04) - The Box Office
(01:16:03) - Last Thoughts
(01:16:37) - Coming Next Week • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
(01:19:05) - Letterboxd
(01:21:32) - Ranking the Films
(01:22:05) - Wrap Up

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John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum • The Next Reel Apr 06, 2023

“I will serve. I will be of service.”We’re On the Run With John Wick.Picking up right where Chapter 2 ended, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum gives us more of what came before – amazing fight sequences with serious stuntwork, beautiful cinematography, and expanded world-building. While it delivers on all fronts, some people found this one’s expanded universe to be a bit too much. But is it? Or does it work? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our journey through the John Wick series with our conversation about Chad Stahelski’s 2019 film John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.First off, what’s with the addendum to the title? Did we need “Parabellum” added, even if it fits both in the Latin phrase mentioned as well as the aptly named parabellum Luger cartridge? Title issues aside, we dig into the world-building here and try to sort out how much world-building is too much, and at what point does it feel like the world-building is there just to get John out of and into particular situations.
That aside, we have a fantastic slew of new characters – The Director, The Elder, The Adjudicator, Sofia, Tick Tock Man, Ernest, and more – not to mention more with some of our favorites, particularly Lance Reddick who we sadly lost between our last recording and this one.
The stunt work and action choreography is top notch in this film, particularly the work with the dogs. It’s a fun, violent film and whether you feel it’s better than, worse than, or on par with what came before, it certainly fits in this world. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Film SundriesLearn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Script Options
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
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Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
(01:34) - Title Issues
(04:35) - Rating and Announcements
(05:17) - RIP Lance Reddick
(07:09) - Initial Thoughts
(08:29) - Rain Effects
(09:31) - Picking Up Where We Left Off
(10:53) - First Fight
(12:50) - Setting Up All the Assassins
(13:52) - Tick Tock Man
(14:28) - So Many Fights
(16:38) - Figuring Out the Story
(20:06) - Variety in Fight Sequences
(22:05) - The Director, The Adjudicator, Etc.
(24:12) - Oaths vs. Rules
(27:23) - The Adjudicator and the Bounty
(32:50) - John in the Desert
(35:21) - Casablanca
(37:42) - Motorcycle Fight
(41:34) - Another Homage
(42:36) - Final Fight
(47:19) - Last Confrontation
(49:56) - Next Chapter
(54:19) - Credits
(55:06) - Awards
(56:52) - The Box Office
(58:09) - Coming Next Week • John Wick: Chapter 4
(01:00:45) - Letterboxd
(01:01:56) - Wrap Up

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The Speakeasy Retrofit • Movies We Like Apr 03, 2023

When we started our movie podcast, the original name was Movies We Like. Eventually, as we began talking about some movies we didn't like, we figured we should rebrand. Hence, The Next Reel Film Podcast was born. But we never could let go of the name Movies We Like. We just didn't have a place for it at the time. Then, as we were looking at rebranding this podcast as we worked to bring more guests from the industry to join us in talking about a movie they liked, we realized that this would be the perfect show to use the name Movies We Like! So here we are – a new era of the Speakeasy, now rebranded as Movies We Like. We're looking forward to the future conversations!

(00:00) - Welcome to The Speakeasy
(02:44) - Welcome Back to Movies We Like!

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John Wick: Chapter 2 • The Next Reel Mar 30, 2023

“Can a man like you know peace?”We’re Back With John as He Takes on the Italian MafiaJohn Wick: Chapter 2 starts mid-action sequence as John fights Viggo’s brother to get his car back. It sets up the action for this film, and sets up John’s motivations. He’s a man stuck in the past who clings to his relics. Once he has his car, he even goes so far as to try breaking the rules to stay out of the business. Unfortunately, he’s not allowed, which propels this film. There’s a lot more world-building in this film to set all of this up. How does it work? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our look at the John Wick series with a conversation about Chad Stahelski’s 2017 follow-up John Wick: Chapter 2.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.This is an R-rated world of violence. What’s interesting is that, given the opportunity to include nudity as well, Stahelski opts to avoid it. That tells us a lot about the specific world-view we’re meant to take away from this movie. It’s one of violence, not sex, even if it’s full of sexy, well-dressed people who know how to fight.
To that end, the stunts and action are amped up and enjoyable. It helps that the film is so beautiful to look at, particularly that final fight sequence through the museum and hall of mirrors. We get a prolonged stunt sequence midway through the film as John leaves his assassination of Gianna then has to fight dozens of hitmen, not to mention Common and Ruby Rose, both playing bodyguards.
But how does this expanded world of hitmen work? Are they making a mess of it or does it work for us? And how about the new rules involving blood oaths? It’s actually quite interesting. If there’s an area we like but worry it may become too convoluted in later films, it’s the 12-member High Table with the various mob families, not to mention the Bowery and all the other various groups that seem to be involved in crime here. Regardless, it all makes for a fun film. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Film SundriesLearn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Script Options
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
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Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • John Wick: Chapter 2
(02:00) - Initial Thoughts
(04:48) - Rating and Announcements
(05:09) - Nudity and R-Rating
(11:20) - John Breaking the Rules
(15:20) - The Open and the Car
(19:16) - Car Hits and Taxi Cabs
(19:55) - Blood Oath and Expositional Rules
(21:21) - Assassin World vs. Online World
(28:11) - Characters and Getting Ready
(31:54) - Homeless Artifice
(35:49) - Color
(37:47) - Ares
(41:52) - Continental and Breaking Rules
(47:00) - Contract
(49:57) - Great Lines and Action Sequences
(56:10) - Credits
(57:04) - Awards
(59:48) - The Box Office
(01:00:50) - Titles
(01:02:49) - Coming Next Week • John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
(01:05:05) - Letterboxd
(01:07:16) - Wrap Up

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John Wick • The Next Reel Mar 23, 2023

“Now that I have found my peace, find yours.”
Time to Avenge the Dead Puppy with John WickIt took some time to get all the right players so the movie John Wick could move forward. Luckily, everything worked out and stunt coordinators Chad Stahelski and David Leitch got the opportunity to direct their first big film. Derek Kolstad’s script had all the right magic and Keanu Reeves reinvented himself yet again with a title that surprised everyone. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson as we kick off our John Wick series where it all started, Stahelski’s 2014 film John Wick.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.Pete loves this movie. Andy enjoys it but it’s never excited him as much as other people. That’s a good starting place for the conversation. Why does it work so well for some and others don’t take to it as much? We also talk about the way this got made and how rare something like that happens where all the pieces fall in place just right. How would this have felt if a septuagenerian was playing the lead? We spend a bit of time digging into the stunt work and why it helps the story, but perhaps also leaves it feeling overly clinical through some eyes. The world-building is spectacular though!
There’s plenty to discuss with this and it’s exciting that its success spurred on an entire franchise. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
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Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Derek Kolstad’s original script SCORN
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • John Wick
(01:43) - John Wick Series
(03:15) - Rating and Announcements
(03:36) - Initial Thoughts
(07:03) - Getting It Made
(12:07) - Wick's Age
(16:36) - Baba Yaga
(18:29) - Revenge Thrillers
(24:25) - Antagonists
(28:08) - Story Setup
(31:21) - Marcus
(36:54) - The Continental
(38:26) - Weird Value of Coins
(41:36) - World Building
(42:32) - Stunts, Chad, and David
(47:53) - Too Clinical
(48:26) - Reeves' Learning Curve
(49:16) - The Look
(50:02) - Marvel Adjacent
(52:53) - Kung Fu Panda Adjacent
(54:26) - Credits
(55:24) - Sequels, Etc.
(55:40) - Awards
(59:04) - The Box Office
(01:00:03) - Co-Directing
(01:00:39) - Last Thoughts
(01:01:33) - Coming Next Week • John Wick: Chapter 2
(01:03:12) - Letterboxd
(01:05:44) - Wrap Up

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T2 Trainspotting • The Next Reel Mar 16, 2023

“So be addicted. Be addicted to something else.”Checking in 20 Years Later with Renton, Spud, Sick Boy, and BegbyThat’s right, it’s time to talk about Danny Boyle’s legacy sequel T2 Trainspotting. It was a long time coming, and that’s even after author Irvine Welsh wrote a 10-years-later sequel called “Porno” to his original novel “Trainspotting.” Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our conversations about the Trainspotting series with a look at Boyle’s 2017 film T2 Trainspotting.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.First off, what’s up with that dumb title? We chat about it a bit and the reasons they named it that, but it doesn’t change our opinions that it doesn’t work that well. We were a little concerned about a return to this world, but in the end, we felt it worked. That’s largely because the people behind it were passionate about it and kept it honest and in line with where the first film ended. That doesn’t mean we don’t have issues with some of the character arcs. Could Begbie perhaps have learned something in prison and not come out 20 years later feeling like the same character? Could we have spent a bit more time dealing with Renton’s health issues? Why did Kelly Macdonald have to be included in what feels just like a cameo?
Still, the story largely works. We like the journeys the characters go on even with some of the issues. We’re glad that Boyle and Ewan McGregor were able to work past their problems to find a way into this one. And it’s great to see Boyle still finding ways to play with his production style, even if sometimes it doesn’t quite feel as fresh as it did the first time around.
All in all, it’s a surprisingly good return to this world. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
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Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Script Options
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(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • T2 Trainspotting
(01:18) - Title
(04:15) - Porno and Origins
(05:52) - Initial Thoughts
(07:31) - Rating and Announcements
(07:53) - Returning 20 Years Later
(08:37) - Legacy Sequel and Interest
(10:49) - Struggle with Begby's Story
(17:24) - Renton's Health Issues
(23:43) - Final Scene and Change
(27:36) - Spud
(30:58) - Childhood Friendships
(32:58) - Jonny Lee Miller
(34:52) - Reconciliation
(36:12) - Kelly Macdonald
(37:47) - Boyle and McGregor
(39:29) - Time and Healing
(41:51) - Forgery
(42:56) - The Look
(46:36) - Sick Boy's Blackmailing
(47:45) - Soundtrack
(49:02) - Credits
(49:54) - Sequels & More
(51:58) - Awards
(53:54) - The Box Office
(55:03) - Last Thoughts
(55:48) - Coming Next Week • John Wick
(58:18) - Letterboxd
(59:58) - Wrap Up

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Trainspotting • The Next Reel Mar 09, 2023

“Living like this is a full-time business.”
Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose Trainspotting.
Danny Boyle had directed before making Trainspotting, but it’s this film that really seemed to stamp him as a director to notice. This film follows a rowdy group of twenty-somethings, several of whom are heroin addicts. It not only pushed Boyle into the conversation, but Ewan McGregor as well, who stands out as the protagonist of our film. His journey as an addict who works to break free from the life only to (possibly) settle in a ‘normal’ life is the story, but it’s the comedy and energy through the film that makes it work so well. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our Trainspotting series with Boyle’s 1996 film Trainspotting.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.What is it about Boyle’s filmmaking style that captures our attention? What do we think of the key performers in this film – Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle, Kevin McKidd and Kelly McDonald? The soundtrack is fantastic. How much does that infuse Boyle’s style? Or is it his style infusing his music selection? And editing? Or it it all just part of the way he sees his films? The comedy seems to capture the essence of the the lives of this group of twenty-somethings. It also allows the darker moments to hit that much harder.
All in all, this film’s a great ride and gut punch at the same time. Plus, it makes us never want to do heroin! We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Film SundriesLearn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Script Options
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Trainspotting
(01:08) - Danny Boyle and His Films
(03:10) - Revisiting This Movie
(04:01) - Rating and Announcements
(04:37) - The Toilet
(08:03) - Playful vs. Impactful
(10:47) - Principal Hooligans
(13:12) - Tommy's Journey
(15:22) - Taking the Money
(17:33) - Ewan McGregor
(21:26) - Ewen Bremner
(23:07) - Scatological Humor
(25:02) - Relationships and Parents
(27:20) - Tone
(28:02) - Jonny Lee Miller
(29:45) - Robert Carlyle
(33:22) - Kelly McDonald
(36:30) - Boyle's Style
(46:31) - Alien Love Triangle
(48:10) - The Look
(50:21) - Voiceover
(52:33) - Last Act
(54:41) - HIV/AIDs
(55:59) - Credits
(56:54) - Awards
(01:00:08) - John Hodge
(01:01:09) - The Box Office
(01:02:34) - Last Thoughts
(01:03:18) - Coming Next Week • T2 Trainspotting
(01:05:20) - Letterboxd
(01:07:28) - Wrap Up

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Slumber Party Massacre III • The Next Reel Mar 02, 2023

Driller Killer’s Back! But He’s Different...It was inevitable with the successes of The Slumber Party Massacre and Slumber Party Massacre II that Roger Corman would want a third film made. Again, he chose to have a female writer and female director which is a nice change from the norm – particularly for the era. But why does this one feel separate from the first two? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we conclude our Slumber Party Massacre series with a conversation about Sally Mattison’s 1990 film Slumber Party Massacre III.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.This film drops any connection to the story and characters from the first two films. Why? Where do we then find connective tissue in this trilogy? Is it just because we have a killer with a drill? It seems thin. And the fact that we have characters named the same from the first film just isn’t enough. We miss the parody elements and feminist approach too. It feels like they decided to just make a straight-up slasher film. They even go so far as to give the killer what feels like tropey psychological damage from sexual abuse suffered as a child at the hands of his uncle. It could’ve been interesting, but they only add just enough to make it feel cliche. It’s fairly disappointing.
Regardless, it still gives us plenty to discuss. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!
Film SundriesLearn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Slumber Party Massacre III
(01:22) - Hard to Track Down
(02:36) - Initial Thoughts
(04:20) - Rating and Announcements
(04:48) - Story Setup
(06:21) - Danger of Peeping Toms
(09:13) - Fear of Being Watched
(10:02) - Killer Mystery
(12:50) - The Women
(16:39) - Making the Third
(17:35) - Writer
(19:52) - Disconnected
(24:53) - In Our Age Group
(26:14) - Kills
(34:04) - Reveal
(37:10) - Uncle Thread
(41:12) - Something Interesting
(42:26) - Credits
(43:20) - Sequels, Remakes, Etc.
(45:04) - The Box Office
(45:46) - Last Thoughts
(46:05) - Coming Next Week • Trainspotting
(47:59) - Letterboxd
(49:32) - Wrap Up

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Slumber Party Massacre II Feb 23, 2023

“I didn’t know girls really did this stuff!”
All aboard for the rockabilly massacre dreamscape!
There’s a clearly logical path from The Slumber Party Massacre to its followup five years later, Slumber Party Massacre II. The sequel follows the young sister from the first movie, now in high school herself, as she’s still dealing with how being a witness to the murders in the first affected not only her mind but also that of her sister, now institutionalized. The filmmakers clearly didn’t want to just tell that story though. This film amps that story up with the teen sex comedy and slasher horror elements mixed with musical sequences and a version of the driller killer that may normally be relegated to spoofs. It didn’t seem to work for everyone, but for us, we had a great time. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Slumber Party Massacre series with a conversation about Deborah Brock’s 1987 film Slumber Party Massacre II.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.The film feels different right out of the gate. Instead of a killer stalking women around town, we have the killer – now armed with an insane blending of electric guitar and giant power drill – haunting our protagonist’s dreams. The filmmakers don’t give us a kill for nearly an hour, instead spending plenty of time up front with the characters. We get more teen sex romp comedy and we get more psychological breakdown elements as our protagonist works through her dreams and the visions coming from it. We have a great time talking about this film and breaking it down. Check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel! Learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.
Film Sundries

Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Slumber Party Massacre II
(01:58) - Initial Thoughts
(03:55) - Rating
(04:16) - Guitar Drill
(05:13) - Same Driller Killer?
(08:54) - Courtney's Version
(10:27) - Crystal Bernard as Courtney
(13:06) - Courtney's Story
(15:28) - Who's Head?
(17:52) - Cop Out?
(23:11) - Dream/Reality
(24:11) - Hard-to-Remember Characters
(26:37) - Deborah Brock
(31:07) - Style
(35:02) - Comedy and Nudity
(37:17) - Commentary
(39:04) - Horror Nods
(39:37) - Last Thoughts
(40:07) - Credits
(41:27) - The Box Office
(42:17) - Last Thoughts
(43:42) - Coming Next Week • Slumber Party Massacre III
(44:51) - Letterboxd
(46:18) - Wrap Up

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The Slumber Party Massacre • The Next Reel Feb 16, 2023

We kick off our next series, looking at some 80s slashers directed by women! That’s right, it’s time to tackle the Slumber Party Massacre series. In today’s episode, we’re looking at the first film, Amy Holden Jones’ 1982 film ‘The Slumber Party Massacre.’ How do its origins as a parody lead to it perhaps punching a bit above its weight?
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Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2 • The Next Reel Feb 09, 2023

We wrap up our conversation about Anurag Kashyap’s 2012 epic mafia saga with a look at ‘Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 2’. It’s about fathers and sons, vengeance, brotherhood, the family business, and so much more. It’s a violent but engaging ride and allows for a great conversation. Tune in!
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Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1 • The Next Reel Feb 02, 2023

We head to the coal mines in India as we tackle the epic gangster saga Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1. It’s over two-and-a-half hours and is quite a ride. Visceral filmmaking and a tale based on real events as we follow several families and groups vying to rule the area in this wild tale. We have a great time with it so check it out then tune in!“A dog always stays a dog.”
Tackling the Epic Indian Gangster Saga
When director Anurag Kashyap finished his film Gangs of Wasseypur, it was five hours and twenty minutes long. No one would distribute it, so he was forced to split it into two. The story details the coal mafia that ran India’s coal industry from the 40s through the 2000s, with many characters and three prominent groups vying to rule. It’s a wild ride and dark look at India’s history. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our Gangs of Wasseypur series with Kashyap’s 2012 film Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.There’s a lot going on in this film with many characters. How well did we track it all? We both rewatched the opening to make sure we knew who was who, and Wikipedia helped as well, but even with many characters over many decades, we both found the story engrossing and loved these characters.
We chat about the story and make sure we have a good understanding of the key points to it. We also dig into some of the cast and what they’re bringing to the table. Plus, we look at Kashyap and some of his influences with this film, as well as some discussion about a Stephen King adaptation of his.
All in all, it’s a wild and entertaining ride that doesn’t feel as long as it is. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
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Script Options
Theatrical trailer
Poster artwork
Flickchart
Letterboxd

(00:00) - Welcome to The Next Reel • Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1
(00:50) - Initial Thoughts
(03:51) - Rating
(04:23) - Based on Real Events
(07:14) - Story Setup
(08:49) - Character Setup
(09:58) - Songs
(11:23) - Directing Connections
(13:13) - Titles and Families
(15:40) - Sardar
(22:10) - Sardar's Family
(25:48) - Brother Relations
(27:49) - Friends vs. Business
(28:52) - Setting Up Assassination
(32:04) - Connecting Families
(33:53) - Changing Hands
(35:22) - Prologue
(37:31) - Director
(41:03) - Look and Tone
(41:40) - Credits
(42:25) - Awards
(44:11) - The Box Office
(45:45) - Last Thoughts
(45:53) - Coming Next Week • Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2
(48:22) - Letterboxd
(50:38) - Wrap Up

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Song of the Thin Man • The Next Reel Jan 26, 2023

We wrap up our time with Nick and Nora Charles (and Asta! And Nick Jr!) as we dig into their last cinematic outing together, the 1947 film ‘Song of the Thin Man’ directed by Edward Buzzell. It’s a perfect way to wrap up our time with these characters as the story balances perfectly between crime and comedy. Tune in!
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The Thin Man Goes Home • The Next Reel Jan 19, 2023

We continue our journey through the Thin Man series with Nick and Nora Charles (and Asta!) as we head to Sycamore Springs to visit Nick’s parents in ‘The Thin Man Goes Home.’ Different creatives behind it this time. How does it fare?
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Shadow of the Thin Man • The Next Reel Jan 12, 2023

We’re back with Nick and Norah, this time at the tracks dealing with the murder of a jockey. Plus, Nick, Jr.’s older now. How’s Nick’s drinking? How are Nora’s nudges to be included in the investigations more? And how well does the murder mystery work? Tune in!
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Another Thin Man • The Next Reel Jan 05, 2023

We continue our time with Nick and Nora Charles, this time with the 1939 film ‘Another Thin Man,’ the third in the Thin Man series. Now, they have a baby and they’re back in New York! What do we think of the story? The characters? The mystery? The comedy? The drinking? Tune in!
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After the Thin Man • The Next Reel Dec 29, 2022

We return to the world of Nick and Norah Charles as we jump back into the ‘Thin Man’ series. We covered the first film as part of our ‘Black-and-White Cinematography of James Wong Howe’ series. Now, we’re finishing the series, starting with the 1936 film ‘After the Thin Man.’ It’s a pure delight. Tune in!
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Co-Parenting in the Movies: A Special Holiday Crossover Event with How to Split a Toaster: A Divorce Podcast About Saving Your Relationships Dec 27, 2022

Join us for this special holiday crossover episode in which Andy joins Pete and Seth on another TruStory FM podcast – How to Split a Toaster: A Divorce Podcast About Saving Your Relationships. On this episode, they’re talking about co-parenting in the movies.
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The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 • The Next Reel Dec 22, 2022

We wrap up our conversations about Bill Condon’s adaptation of the second half of Stephenie Meyer’s novel, tackling werewolves, vampires, vampire babies, Volturi, witnesses, Charlie, and more as we discuss the 2012 film ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.’
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The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 • The Next Reel Dec 15, 2022

We’ve been invited to Bella’s and Edward’s wedding, along with everyone in Forks it seems. That’s right, it’s time for Bill Condon’s adaptation of the first half of Stephenie Meyer’s final novel of her vampire/werewolf saga, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1. Is the camp back? What do we think of the wedding and honeymoon? What about the baby? The werewolf antagonistic subplot? Lots to unpack. Tune in!
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The Twilight Saga: Eclipse • The Next Reel Dec 08, 2022

We continue our debate about Team Edward or Team Jacob as we get mired in the love triangle vs. Riley & the Newborns. That’s right, we’re talking about David Slade’s 2010 film ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.’ Is this the worst of the series? Tune in to find out!
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The Twilight Saga: New Moon • The Next Reel Dec 01, 2022

We continue our struggle with Bella’s decision – will she choose Jacob or will she stick with Edward? We’re here for it. Join us as we continue our journey through the film adaptations of Stephanie Meyer’s series in our conversation about Chris Weitz’s 2009 film “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”
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Twilight • The Next Reel Nov 24, 2022

We’re digging into the franchise that kicked off the most important debate so far of the 21st Century – are you on Team Edward or Team Jacob? That’s right, we’re looking at Catherine Hardwicke’s adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s vamp-romance. Tune in to hear our conversation about the 2008 film ‘Twilight.’
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The Raid 2 • The Next Reel Nov 17, 2022

We wrap up our look at Gareth Evans’ series of Indonesian action films with a conversation about ‘The Raid 2: Berandal.’ It’s intense, it’s epic, it’s bloody, it’s operatic. We have a great time chatting about it.
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The Raid • The Next Reel Nov 10, 2022

We kick off our new series looking at Gareth Evans Indonesian action saga starting with his 2011 film “The Raid”, or “The Raid: Redemption” as it was released in the States. Just another action movie or something that feels like it’s excelling and adding something to the landscape of action cinema? Tune in!
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Before Midnight • The Next Reel Nov 03, 2022

We’re wrapping up our 18-year journey with Jesse and Céline as we close our conversations about Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy. In this episode, we’re talking about the 2013 film “Before Midnight.” It’s quite the disagreement about the film and the journeys of our characters. Tune in!
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Before Sunset • The Next Reel Oct 27, 2022

We continue our time with Jesse and Céline, this time in Paris nine years after they first met. That’s right – in this episode, we’re digging into Richard Linklater’s 2004 film “Before Sunset,” the second film in his Before trilogy starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.
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Before Sunrise • The Next Reel Oct 20, 2022

We’re jumping into Richard Linkater’s world of Jesse and Céline – the Before trilogy. We kick things off exploring Vienna with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. How well does this minimalist conversational film with two Gen-Xers work for us? Tune in!
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Pitch Perfect 3 • The Next Reel Oct 13, 2022

We wrap up our aca-conversation about the Bellas. Now they're performing with the USO tour as they sing their way across Europe. How does it play? Is it better than the second film or worse? And did we need the action antics brought with the inclusion of Fat Amy’s dad? We certainly have some thoughts. Tune in!
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Pitch Perfect 2 • The Next Reel Oct 06, 2022

We return to Barden University to reunite with the Barden Bellas and their journey to compete at the a cappella World Finals. That’s right, we’re discussing the 2015 film PITCH PERFECT 2, directed by Elizabeth Banks, in this episode as we continue our series on the Pitch Perfect franchise. Tune in!
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Pitch Perfect • The Next Reel Sep 29, 2022

We aca-kick off our a cappella love with the Treblemakers, the Bellas, and more as we start our Pitch Perfect trilogy series with Jason Moore’s 2012 film PITCH PERFECT. So much singing and we’re 100% here for it.
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Back to the Future Part III • The Next Reel Sep 22, 2022

We wrap up our return to the Back to the Future trilogy with Robert Zemeckis’ finale from 1990: BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III. What do we think of the western direction they took? Does it hold up better than the second film? And why do all of their relatives look exactly the same? Tune in!
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Back to the Future Part II • The Next Reel Sep 15, 2022

We continue our journey backward and forward in time with Marty McFly and Doc Brown, this time in the 1989 sequel BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II. How does it stand up as the middle film in a trilogy? Does it get too convoluted? How about the wackiness running rampant? And what’s this business with Marty reacting so strongly when called a ‘chicken’? Tune in for that and more!
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Back to the Future • The Next Reel Sep 08, 2022

We kick off our look at Robert Zemeckis’ time traveling trilogy with one of our favorites – BACK TO THE FUTURE. It’s always a joy to revisit as it never gets old. Join us as we kick off this series with this 1985 classic!
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Paddington 2 • The Next Reel Sep 01, 2022

We wrap up our Paddington series with a conversation about the absolutely delightful sequel to the first film, Paul King’s 2017 film ‘Paddington 2.’ Is Hugh Grant right in saying this may be his best film? What do the critics have to say? And how well does it work for us? Tune in!
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Paddington • The Next Reel Aug 25, 2022

We voyage from darkest Peru to London with one of our favorite bears, Paddington. In this episode, we kick off our exploration of the ‘Paddington’ films with Paul King’s 2014 ‘Paddington.’ It’s a sheer delight and yes, we brought our marmalade sandwiches.
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Return of the Jedi • The Next Reel Aug 18, 2022

We wrap up our look at the Original Star Wars trilogy with Richard Marquand’s 1983 film ‘Return of the Jedi.’ Again, we look at the Harmy’s Despecialized edition, but we did some side-by-side comparisons between it and the latest iteration on Disney+. How do the changes stack up? How does the film hold up for us? And how about those Ewoks? Tune in!
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The Empire Strikes Back • The Next Reel Aug 11, 2022

We continue our look at the despecialized editions of the original Star Wars trilogy. In today’s episode, we’re talking about Irvin Kershner’s 1980 film ‘The Empire Strikes Back.’ It’s hard to find issues with the film but there’s still plenty to discuss. Tune in!
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A Woman Under the Influence — Tami Reiker • The Speakeasy Aug 09, 2022

Award-winning cinematographer Tami Reiker joins us in the Speakeasy today to talk about one of her favorite films, John Cassavetes’ 1974 film ‘A Woman Under the Influence’, as well as the new Apple TV+ show she worked on called ‘Surface.’
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Star Wars • The Next Reel Aug 04, 2022

We kick off our 12th season with a big one, starting our conversations about the original Star Wars trilogy. In this episode, we’re looking at where it all started – George Lucas’ 1977 film ‘Star Wars.’
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A Note From Andy and Pete • The Next Reel Jul 16, 2022

Andy and Pete have a quick note about starting dynamic advertising during the episodes.
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Billy Madison • The Next Reel Jul 14, 2022

We end our 90s Comedies series and our 11th season with Tamra Davis’ comedy ‘Billy Madison.’ It was Adam Sandler’s first opportunity to carry a film, and he’s clearly found his audience. What did we think of it?
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The Last Supper • The Next Reel Jul 07, 2022

Our 90s Comedies series continues with a dip into black satire. In today’s episode, we’re talking about Stacy Title’s 1995 film ‘The Last Supper.’ Is it more relevant than ever with its take on divisiveness? Or does it not work at all? Tune in to find out!
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Clueless • The Next Reel Jun 30, 2022

We started this season with Amy Heckerling and we return to her in today’s episode with her 1995 loose adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma.” Join us as we talk about her film ‘Clueless,’ the second in our 90s Comedies series.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer • The Next Reel Jun 23, 2022

We kick off our 90s Comedies series with Fran Rubel Kuzui’s 1992 comedy horror ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’ Is it the film we remembered it to be? How does it hold up to the series and everything else in the Buffyverse?
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After the Wedding • The Next Reel Jun 16, 2022

We wrap up our Mads and Susanne series with the 2006 collaboration between Mads Mikkelsen and Susanne Bier – After the Wedding. What do we think of this film? How does it compare to last week’s film ‘Open Hearts’? Tune in to hear the conversation.
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Open Hearts • The Next Reel Jun 09, 2022

We continue our eleventh season looking at films directed by women with a short series called Mads and Susanne. In this series, we’re looking at films directed by Susanne Bier starring Mads Mikkelsen, and we start with their 2002 collaboration, ‘Open Hearts.’
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Queen of Katwe • The Next Reel Jun 02, 2022

We wrap up our Sports series with Mira Nair’s 2016 film ‘Queen of Katwe.’ We return to Nair after talking about ‘Salaam Bombay!’ in our Coming of Age Debuts series. How does this one compare? How does it fit in the world of sports? And does it reach farther than most biopics?
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The Blues Brothers • The Next Reel • Member Bonus May 31, 2022

We’re returning to our Great Car Chases series to look at John Landis’ 1980 comedy ‘The Blues Brothers.’ It’s our monthly member bonus episode. Thanks for your support! Enjoy the conversation.
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Lords of Dogtown • The Next Reel May 26, 2022

We continue our Sports series, in which we’re looking at four films about sports directed by women, with Catherine Hardwicke’s sophomore effort from 2005, ‘Lords of Dogtown.’ Is it more than a biopic? Can we identify with the protagonists? And how’s the skateboarding?
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Girlfight • The Next Reel May 19, 2022

We continue our season of all films directed by women and our series focused on Sports films with Karyn Kusama’s 2000 debut film ‘Girlfight,’ starring Michelle Rodriguez, also in her debut performance. It’s a solid film and well-worth talking about. Check it out then tune in to this episode!
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Love & Basketball • The Next Reel May 12, 2022

It’s time for our next series! We’re kicking off our Sports series with Gina Prince-Bythewood’s 2000 film ‘Love & Basketball.’ This is an incredible film and an easy one to love and talk about. Definitely check it out then tune in!
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Booksmart • The Next Reel May 05, 2022

We come to the end of our Coming of Age Debuts series with Olivia Wilde’s fantastic 2019 film ‘Booksmart.’ We have such a great time with this movie. Tune in to hear us talk about the film and what makes a coming of age film a coming of age film.
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The Diary of a Teenage Girl • The Next Reel Apr 28, 2022

In this episode, we continue our Coming of Age Debuts series looking at Marielle Heller’s first feature – ‘The Diary of a Teenage Girl’ from 2015. It’s an assured film with a well-defined point of view. It may not be for everyone, but we love it. Tune in!
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Thirteen • The Next Reel Apr 21, 2022

We continue moving through our Coming of Age Debuts series with 2003’s film ‘Thirteen’ by Catherine Hardwicke. It’s a tough look into life as a thirteen-year-old girl when you start hanging out with the wrong crowd. Check it out then tune in!
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The Virgin Suicides • The Next Reel Apr 14, 2022

Our ‘Coming of Age Debuts’ series continues! This week, we’re taking on Sofia Coppola and her debut feature film ‘The Virgin Suicides.’ It’s a hallucinatory, haunting film about memory and growing up. We had a great time revisiting it and have a great conversation about it, so check it out then tune in!
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Ratcatcher • The Next Reel Apr 07, 2022

We continue our Coming of Age Debuts series with Lynne Ramsay’s 1999 film ‘Ratcatcher.’ How does she do right out of the gate? We loved ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin.’ Do we see hints at what Ramsay does there in this earlier film? And what does this film say about coming of age in Glasgow 1973? Tune in to find out!
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Slums of Beverly Hills • The Next Reel Mar 31, 2022

We continue our Coming of Age Debuts series with Tamara Jenkins’ first film, 1998’s ‘Slums of Beverly Hills.’ This film feels like a solid representation of what ‘coming of age’ means. How does the film work for us? Does the comedy hold up? And Jenkins’ direction? Tune in to find out!
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Salaam Bombay! • The Next Reel Mar 24, 2022

We kick off our series on Coming of Age Debuts with Mira Nair’s first narrative feature. It’s ‘Salaam Bombay!’ from 1988. It’s a realistic look at life on the streets for a kid in the slums of Bombay. What do we think of the film? Tune in to find out!
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Rambling Rose • The Next Reel Mar 17, 2022

We wrap up our John Heard series with a film he’s hardly in. It’s Martha Coolidge’s 1991 Depression coming of age story ‘Rambling Rose,’ which stars Laura Dern and her mother Diane Ladd! Tune in.
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Awakenings • The Next Reel Mar 10, 2022

We continue exploring the films of John Heard with our current series. In this episode, we look at the second of two films he did directed by Penny Marshall. He’s a supporting character and delivers well opposite Robert De Niro and Robin Williams. It’s the 1990 film ‘Awakenings’ based on Dr. Oliver Sacks’ 1973 book. Tune in!
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Big • The Next Reel Mar 03, 2022

We started our John Heard series with some films in which he played the lead. Now we’re looking at some in which he plays smaller but still important parts. In this episode, we’re looking at Penny Marshall’s 1988 film ‘Big’ in which John Heard plays a corporate workplace bully to Hanks’ character. What do we think of the film? Tune in to find out!
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Chilly Scenes of Winter • The Next Reel Feb 24, 2022

We continue our journey through our John Heard series with his second-of-two films with Joan Micklin Silver, 1979’s ‘Chilly Scenes of Winter.’ It’s fair to say this worked really well for us. It’s worth seeking out so do so then tune in!
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Between the Lines • The Next Reel Feb 17, 2022

We wrap up our Journalist series and kick off our John Heard series with Joan Micklin Silver’s 1977 story about the lives of people working at an alternative newspaper as it’s bought by a corporate entity – ‘Between the Lines.’ Great film. Check it out and tune in!
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The Weight of Water • The Next Reel Feb 10, 2022

We continue our Journalists series with a dip back into Kathryn Bigelow’s body of work. This time, it’s her 2002 film ‘The Weight of Water.’ It didn’t get much praise on its initial release. What did we think of it? Tune in!
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Merrily We Go to Hell • The Next Reel Feb 03, 2022

We continue our Journalists series with a film that’s a bit more journalist adjacent – Dorothy Arzner’s 1932 film ‘Merrily We Go to Hell.’ What do we think of Frederic March and Sylvia Sidney? How about their modern marriage? And how did the Hays Code figure in to this movie? Tune in for more!
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A Quick Note From Andy • The Next Reel Jan 20, 2022

We're taking an unexpected short break but we'll be back before you know it!
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Boat People • The Next Reel Jan 13, 2022

We conclude our series on Hong Kong New Wave director Ann Hui and kick off a series on journalists with Hui’s 1982 film ‘Boat People,’ the film that really put her on the map. How does it work for us? Does it accurately portray journalists? And does that matter? Tune in to hear our thoughts!
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Our Time Will Come • The Next Reel Jan 06, 2022

We’re continuing our series on Hong Kong New Wave director Ann Hui. In this episode, we discuss her 2017 war drama ‘Our Time Will Come.’ How historical is it? What do we think of the documentary framing device? And what do we think overall? Tune in to find out!
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Song of the Exile • The Next Reel Dec 30, 2021

We continue exploring the films of Hong Kong filmmaker Ann Hui with her 1990 film ‘Song of the Exile’ starring Maggie Cheung and Lu Hsiao-fen. It’s a mother/daughter story that explores family history, family secrets, and finding connections, but does it work for us? Tune in to this episode to find out!
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Arthur Christmas • The Next Reel Dec 23, 2021

We close out our 10-part 10 Year Anniversary series – all in part of celebrating our 10 years of podcasting – with a holiday treat. We’re looking at Sarah Smith’s 2011 film ‘Arthur Christmas.’ It’s an absolute delight of a film with a voice cast that brings their A-game headed by James McAvoy. Will this turn into your own annual treat? Check it out this holiday season then tune in!
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A Simple Life • The Next Reel Dec 16, 2021

Andy and Pete continue our 10 Year Anniversaries series with an episode that’s a crossover with our next series – a look at director Ann Hui. We’re looking at her 2011 film ‘A Simple Life,’ starring Andy Lau and Deannie Ip. It’s a touching and quiet film about a maid and the young man who’s family she’s been working for nearly 60 years, and how their relationship evolves when she decides to retire to an old folks’ home. The pace may not be for everyone, but we were both really touched by the film. Tune in to hear our conversation!
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Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara • The Next Reel Dec 09, 2021

Pete and Andy hit the road with Kamir, Imraan, and Arjun on this week’s show as we continue our 10 Year Anniversaries series with Zoya Akhtar’s delightful film ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.’ It’s a road movie following three guys on an adventure vacation/bachelor party, and while it sounds a bit like ‘The Hangover,’ it’s anything but. We had a great time with it! Check it out then tune in!
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Where Do We Go Now? • The Next Reel Dec 02, 2021

We continue our 10 Year Anniversaries series with Nadine Labaki’s 2011 film ‘Where Do We Go Now?’ Labaki uses a touch of magical realism and musical elements to weave a tale of an isolated village where the woman try to keep the men from going to war with one another. We had a great time with this movie, which surprised both of us with its tone that balances comedy and drama well. It’s a fun conversation too! Tune in!
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We Need to Talk About Kevin • The Next Reel Nov 25, 2021

We’re talking about Lynne Ramsay’s 2011 film ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ as the 6th film in our 10 Year Anniversaries series, part of our own anniversary celebration. This film is a tough one to watch but incredibly well put together and a powerful journey. We’re big fans. Tune in to hear what we have to say!
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Tomboy • The Next Reel Nov 18, 2021

We continue our 10 Year Anniversary series with Céline Sciamma’s 2011 film ‘Tomboy.’ We both really connected to the film and found it to be a powerful experience. Tune in to check it out!
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Raiders of the Lost Ark Revisited • The Next Reel Nov 11, 2021

Ten years ago, we decided to start up a little podcast called Movies We Like with a conversation about ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark.’ Well, that podcast has grown and blossomed over time, becoming The Next Reel, and the day this episode releases – November 11th, 2021 – will be our ten year anniversary! Join us as we return to where it all started for a look back at the origins of our podcast as well as Spielberg’s film.
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Pariah • The Next Reel Nov 11, 2021

We continue our 10 Year Anniversary series with Dee Rees’ 2011 film ‘Pariah.’ It was quite the breakout hit for her 10 years ago. How does it hold up today? And how has Dee used it to get her career off the ground? Tune in to hear our conversation about it!
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Hard Labor • The Next Reel Nov 04, 2021

We’re looking at the second film in our Ten Year Anniversary series – Juliana Rojas’ and Marco Dutra’s 2011 film ‘Hard Labor,’ or ‘Trabalhar Cansa.’ It’s a look at the struggles of the working world in Brazil’s struggling economy, but what do we think of the horror metaphors in the film? Is it enough or does it leave the film feeling muddled? Tune in to see what we thought!
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The Future • The Next Reel Oct 28, 2021

We’re continuing our 10th anniversary celebration series with Miranda July's 2011 film ‘The Future’. It’s quirky and charming and has a lot to say about life and how we live it. But it doesn’t seem to land with everyone. How does it work for us? Tune in to find out!
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17 Girls • The Next Reel Oct 21, 2021

We’re kicking off the celebration for our own 10th anniversary later this year with a series about films also celebrating their 10th anniversaries! In this episode, we start our Tenth Anniversary series with Delphine and Muriel Coulin’s 2011 film ‘17 Filles’, aka ‘17 Girls’. It’s about 17 teenage girls all deciding to get pregnant together. In a way, it’s a frightening continuation of our last ‘Horror Debuts’ series.
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Retake: Horror Debuts • The Next Reel • Member Bonus Oct 17, 2021

This series is over. We’ve covered Messiah of Evil, Goodnight Mommy, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, The Babadook, The Lure, Saint Maud, and Relic. So what did we think of these horror debuts? And what did we think about their directors?
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Flickchart Re-Ranking • October 2021 • The Next Reel • Member Bonus Oct 15, 2021

Andy and Pete are back for more Flickchart Re-Ranking. This is our October 2021 member bonus re-ranking battle. We employ all of our secret combo moves in this episode. This is a member bonus episode, but we're releasing it to the world to enjoy! Please consider becoming a member!
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Saint Maud • The Next Reel Oct 14, 2021

Our Horror Debuts series comes to an end with Rose Glass’s 2019 film ‘Saint Maud.’ It’s a dark ride on the psychosis train but we find ourselves a little divided on this one. Tune in to find out why!
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The Lure • The Next Reel Oct 07, 2021

We’re talking about the fifth film in our Horror Debuts series – Agnieszka Smoczynska’s 2015 film ‘The Lure.’ It’s a bit of a genre mashup – horror, musical, fairytale – and certainly worth talking about.
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Relic • The Next Reel • Member Bonus Sep 30, 2021

The members voted and for September 2021, they selected Natalie Erika James’ 2020 horror film ‘Relic’ as our member bonus episode. This is now the seventh film in our Horror Debuts series. Check out the film and tune in!
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The Babadook • The Next Reel Sep 30, 2021

The fourth of six in our Horror Debuts series. So many people love Jennifer Kent’s ‘The Babadook,’ but does it deliver? Or is it wearing its metaphor too firmly on its sleeve? We tackle Mister Babadook – including a discussion about his LGBTQ+ explosion in memes and interweb posts – in this episode.
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A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night • The Next Reel Sep 23, 2021

The third of six in our Horror Debuts series. People call Ana Lily Amirpour’s film ‘A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night’ an Iranian Feminist Vampire Spaghetti Western Movie. But is it horror? We dig into this movie on the show this week!
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Goodnight Mommy • The Next Reel Sep 16, 2021

The second of six in our Horror Debuts series. Aunt/Nephew writer/director pair Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala tackle twins, possible doppelgängers, and family grief in this slow build of a horror film. It’s incredibly well-crafted but how does the story work for us. Tune in to find out!
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Messiah of Evil • The Next Reel Sep 09, 2021

The first of six in our Horror Debuts series. Before 'American Graffiti,' before 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,' before 'Howard the Duck,' there was 'Messiah of Evil.' We talk about where husband and wife team Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck got their start.
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Look Who's Talking • The Next Reel Sep 02, 2021

Fifth of five in our ‘80s Comedy with Coolidge & Heckerling’ series. Amy Heckerling returns to personal filmmaking but does it in a broad romantic comedy. We close out the series with a conversation about her most successful film.
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Real Genius • The Next Reel Aug 26, 2021

The fourth of five in our 80s Comedy with Coolidge and Heckerling series, and the second film directed by Martha Coolidge we've discussed on the show. So much to love in this film! It's a film about smart people that feels genuine. Plus, there's lots of popcorn too...
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Johnny Dangerously • The Next Reel Aug 19, 2021

How does director Amy Heckerling handle shifting to broad parody comedy, in a period film to boot? What do we think of Michael Keaton, Joe Piscopo, Marilu Henner, Maureen Stapleton, Griffin Dunne, and the rest of the cast? How about that alternate ending? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Valley Girl • The Next Reel Aug 12, 2021

What’s the story as to how director Martha Coolidge found Nicolas Cage for his part in this film? And how great is he with Deborah Foreman as the two leads? The Romeo and Juliet story works well in this teen world of the San Fernando Valley vs. the grungier Hollywood/DTLA. How do the actors deliver in creating these two worlds? And how about Coolidge and her music selections? We talk about all of this and more on this week’s show so check it out then tune in!
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Fast Times at Ridgemont High • The Next Reel Aug 05, 2021

Director Amy Heckerling got her start with ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High,’ but how does it hold up today? So many incredible young performers early in their careers in this film – Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sean Penn, Phoebe Cates, Judge Reinhold, Forest Whitaker, Anthony Edwards, Eric Stoltz, even Nicolas Cage! Who are the standouts? Is the film enough of a comedy or is it too serious? And how about the music? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Identity • The Next Reel Jul 01, 2021

We totally buy into the twists in the film, but why do so many other people have problems with them? In a cast of great actors, which do we have issues with (if any)? And what do we think of James Mangold as a director? Is there anything that stands out as Mangolden techniques we see here? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Memento • The Next Reel Jun 24, 2021

How great are Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano in “Memento?” Does the simultaneous forward and backward telling of the story work for us or does it feel like a stunt? Why did Nolan and his brother Jonathan push for this to be in the Original Screenplay category at the Oscars? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Sword of Trust • The Next Reel Jun 17, 2021

How does director Lynn Shelton do with her return to indie comedy? What do Marc Maron, Jon Bass, Michaela Watkins, and Jillian Bell bring to the table as the central performers in the film? As her final film before she passed away sadly in 2020, how does this film fit into her filmography and will we be returning to talk about more of her films? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Outside In • The Next Reel Jun 10, 2021

Lynn Shelton returns to team Duplass, this time with Jay. How well do they do as co-writers? Why weren’t people talking about Edie Falco and her performance in this film more? We also love Kaitlyn Dever who clearly shows she’s incredibly talented. And how does Shelton do with a straightforward drama? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Laggies • The Next Reel Jun 03, 2021

Does “Laggies” work as director Lynn Shelton’s chance to tell bigger budget comedy dramas? How charming are Keira Knightley and Sam Rockwell? And what’s up with the title “Laggies.” What does it mean anyway? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Your Sister's Sister • The Next Reel May 27, 2021

How great are Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass, and Rosemary DeWitt in their roles? Does Lynn Shelton amp up her comedy and drama in this film or does it just create characters with problems we can’t identify with? And how gorgeous is the Pacific Northwest? Tune in to this week’s show – the second in our Lynn Shelton series – to get answers to these questions and more!
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Humpday • The Next Reel May 20, 2021

Does this film that really kickstarted Lynn Shelton’s career completely work or are there elements that don’t work as well? How much do we like Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, and Alycia Delmore as the three principal characters? And does the ending work? We’re kicking off our Lynn Shelton series with this film, so check it out and tune in to get answers to these questions and more!
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The Mist • The Next Reel May 13, 2021

Which version should you watch, color or black-and-white? Does the bleak ending ruin the film for us or make the film stand up in a pool of mediocre horror fare? And how much does everyone just hate Marcia Gay Harden’s character by the end of this thing? We talk about these points and more on the show this week. Tune in!
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The Green Mile • The Next Reel May 06, 2021

How does Frank Darabont’s second Stephen King feature hold up to his first? How great are all the performances across the board here, but notably Michael Clarke Duncan? And how problematic is the film with its magical negro element? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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The Shawshank Redemption • The Next Reel Apr 29, 2021

Tom & Tony Bancroft from The Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast join us to kick off our Stephen King à la Darabont series! Why has this film stood the test of time as well as it has? How much did Darabont change from the original source material? And how awkward is it to picture any of the other actors considered for the role after seeing the brilliance of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman? It’s one of our favorites, so tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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The Notorious Bettie Page • The Next Reel Apr 22, 2021

Does this film hold up as well as Mary Harron’s previous film, American Psycho? How great is Gretchen Mol in this role? And why does this feel too much like a safe, standard biopic instead of more edgy like Harron’s first film, I Shot Andy Warhol, another biopic? Tune in to this week’s episode to get answers to these questions and more!
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American Psycho • The Next Reel Apr 15, 2021

Is this a case where the book and film stand as separate but equal entities? How great (and frightening) is Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman? Why didn’t this film get more awards notice? And who is this mysterious Davis anyway? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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I Shot Andy Warhol • The Next Reel Apr 08, 2021

How strong is Lili Taylor as Valerie Solanas and why didn’t her film career take off more after this film? How much do you need to know about Andy Warhol, Candy Darling, Solanas, and everyone else from The Factory before watching this film? And do unlikeable protagonists still allow for great and rewatchable films? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Born on the Fourth of July • The Next Reel Apr 01, 2021

What’s the better Vietnam film in Oliver Stone’s career – _Platoon_ or _Born on the Fourth of July_? How well does Tom Cruise work in the lead role, especially at this point in his career? And how does this film show the culmination of everything Stone’s learned to tell the filmic stories he wants to tell over the course of the 80s? Tune in to this week’s show to hear us answer these questions and more!
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Talk Radio • The Next Reel Mar 25, 2021

Why did this film never connect to audiences? How strong are Eric Bogosian, Alec Baldwin, and the rest of the cast in their roles? And is this a Stone classic? It is in our eyes! Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Wall Street • The Next Reel Mar 18, 2021

How great is Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko and why is Douglas sad when people tell him they became brokers after seeing this movie? Does he ever actually say, “Greed is good”? Why does Charlie Sheen not seem to connect as much as he did in 'Platoon'? And why did Darryl Hannah feel disconnected from her role? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Platoon • The Next Reel Mar 11, 2021

How does Oliver Stone’s semi-autobiographical anti-war Vietnam film hold up after nearly 35 years? Does Charlie Sheen do his father proud in his take on the Vietnam War? Does Stone’s messaging come through too strongly or is it well-balanced? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more.
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8 Million Ways to Die • The Next Reel Mar 04, 2021

Is Hal Ashby’s last feature film really as bad as people say or are its glimmers of neo-noir enough to make it worth talking about? How well does Jeff Bridges play an alcoholic? And what is a funicular anyway? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Salvador • The Next Reel Feb 25, 2021

Is this the film where Oliver Stone’s angle on political filmmaking takes shape? How good is James Woods as the unlikeable protagonist? And do we really learn much about politics in El Salvador at the time? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Year of the Dragon • The Next Reel Feb 18, 2021

Do the character relationship problems in this film weigh down the strengths of the crime plot? How well do Mickey Rourke, John Lone, and the rest of the cast do? And just how well does the final shootout work? Tune in to this week’s episode to get answers to these questions and more.
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Scarface • The Next Reel Feb 11, 2021

Why has this film endured the test of time? Is Pacino’s depiction of a Cuban over-the-top, offensive, or does it work? In the realm of remakes, how well does this work in retelling Howard Hawks’ original version? And is the film too violent? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Conan the Barbarian • The Next Reel Feb 04, 2021

How well doe Schwarzenegger work in the film that kickstarted his career? Why didn’t this series take off the way the filmmakers wanted it to? How does this film about cults and false truths still feel relevant today in the world of QAnon? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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The Hand • The Next Reel Jan 28, 2021

How realistic is any story about a severed hand that attacks people, and are we able to get past that premise to enjoy this movie? Is Michael Caine’s descent into madness effective or too much? Were the effects believable? And what is this film saying about psychology and science in the 80s? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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City Zero • The Next Reel Jan 21, 2021

How does this absurdist tale explore Soviet society during the days of glasnost and the move toward the breakdown of the USSR? Do the Lynchian elements help the film? And what’s up with that cake? For answers to these questions and more, tune in to this week’s show!
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To The Stars By Hard Ways (Per Aspera Ad Astra) • The Next Reel Jan 14, 2021

What works and what doesn’t work in this film? What makes the interesting and sometimes dated effects work so well for us? And which version should you watch? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Dead Mountaineer’s Hotel • The Next Reel Jan 07, 2021

How well do the filmmakers use the location, cinematography, and music to create a tone for this film? Does the film make sense once the secrets are revealed? How well does this film work as social commentary of life under the Soviet rule in the 70s? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Underworld: Blood Wars • The Next Reel Dec 31, 2020

How well does this fifth film wrap up the franchise? Is Snow Selene enough to change things up or is she just selling more toys? And why didn’t they do more to bring lycans and vampires together? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Underworld: Awakening • The Next Reel Dec 24, 2020

How well does Kate Beckinsale do in this return to the role of Selene? Does the new shift in story make sense and does it progress it in new and exciting ways? Do the problems overwhelm it or are we still able to have fun and enjoy it for what it is? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Underworld: Rise of the Lycans • The Next Reel Dec 17, 2020

Are the rules of this world starting to get more nonsensical as they progress? Could they have done more with this clear Romeo & Juliet retread? At what point does this happen in relation to everything with Selene? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Underworld: Evolution • The Next Reel Dec 10, 2020

Does the vampire/werewolf soap opera bring anything new and worthy to the table after the first film? How do the villains hold up? And are any of the new bits of vampire/lycan lore good enough to become canon? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Crawl • The Next Reel Nov 26, 2020

Why does Alexandre Aja’s film work so well? Are the creature and hurricane effects strong? And what’s scarier: alligators, crocodiles, sperm whales, anacondas, piranhas, octopuses, or great white sharks? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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In the Heart of the Sea • The Next Reel Nov 19, 2020

Did this story really play out this way or did they Hollywood-ize it? Who does the worst New Englander accent? And do sperm whales really get this aggressive? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Lake Placid • The Next Reel Nov 12, 2020

What works better, Stan Winston’s creature effects or the actors performing David E. Kelley’s lines? How does Steve Miner handle the creature feature genre? And how great is Betty White in seriously everything? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Anaconda • The Next Reel Nov 05, 2020

Why does over-the-top John Voight work so well here? Do anacondas really get to be this big? Does it work as a B-creature feature? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Piranha • The Next Reel Oct 29, 2020

Does this film work better than last week’s Tentacles? How well does Joe Dante’s trademark horror-comedy come through in this early film of his? What’s more terrifying – piranhas or octopuses – and should we really be afraid of them in real life? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Tentacles • The Next Reel Oct 22, 2020

In the realm of rip-offs, how does this one hold up? Can an animal attack movie succeed without a strong story or protagonist? Does anyone buy that John Huston and Shelley Winters are brother and sister? Tune in to the show this week to get answers to these questions and more!
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Parasite • The Next Reel Oct 15, 2020

How does this fit in with Bong Joon-Ho’s other ‘message’ movies? Why does the structure here work so well? And what is a scholar’s rock exactly and why is that important to the story? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Roma • The Next Reel Oct 08, 2020

Why does the black-and-white cinematography work so well in capturing a sense of Cuarón’s own memories? How does the ‘upstairs/downstairs’ nature of this story work when intersecting with the macroscopic view of Mexico City in the 70s? How well do the first time actors perform in the film? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Amour • The Next Reel Oct 01, 2020

Does this film provoke in the ways that other Michael Haneke films do? Who’s the better actor – Jean-Louis Trintignant or Emmanuelle Riva? Does this film immediately fall into the camp of ‘films to watch just once’ because of its subject matter? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Letters From Iwo Jima • The Next Reel Sep 24, 2020

How did Clint Eastwood end up directing a Japanese language film about a battle during WWII? What does this film say about Japanese culture and its rituals, notably those during war? How strong is this cast led by Ken Watanabe? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more.
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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon • The Next Reel Sep 17, 2020

How well does this movie hold up on its 20th anniversary? How is the wuxia wirework captured so beautifully here still rippling through films made today? Should any of the actors here have been nominated for Oscars? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Life Is Beautiful • The Next Reel Sep 10, 2020

Can a comedic film set during the Holocaust work? Does Benigni pull off the hat trick everyone thought he did back in 1998? Why is it hard to make a film that’s a fable? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Il Postino (The Postman) • The Next Reel Sep 03, 2020

Does a simple yet adorable story full of love and passion like this deserve a Best Picture nomination? Why is the story of getting this film made so heartbreaking? And how does the Miramax marketing machine fit into this film’s success? Get answers to these questions and more by tuning into this week’s show!
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Cries and Whispers • The Next Reel Aug 27, 2020

Is this film built for regular filmgoers or specifically Ingmar Bergman fans? Is the color red brilliantly used or overused? How good are the performances in the film? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Z • The Next Reel Aug 20, 2020

Does Costa-Gavras’ film feel as relevant today as it did in 1969? How does the structure of the storytelling work in detailing the elements of this political thriller? Should it have won Best Picture in addition to Best Foreign Language Film? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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The Grand Illusion • The Next Reel Aug 13, 2020

What is the grand illusion in The Grand Illusion? How does Jean Renoir’s realism work for this World War I film? Why is director/actor Erich von Stroheim so memorable as the director of the POW camp? And why is Dita Parlo so high in the credits? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Friday After Next • The Next Reel Aug 06, 2020

Coming back just a few short years later, Ice Cube sets his third film in the Friday franchise at Christmastime. It’s a fun shift in the franchise, which also shifts locations yet again to a low-end strip mall where Craig and his cousin Day-Day work as security guards. Cube is yet again tackling the script by himself and bringing on a first-time filmmaker to bring the film to life, this time through music video director Marcus Raboy. Join us as we wrap up our Friday franchise series with Raboy’s 2002 film 'Friday After Next'.
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Next Friday • The Next Reel Jul 30, 2020

When Ice Cube started up his own production company it made sense to leverage the first film he wrote to make a sequel. After all, most sequels are guaranteed to earn back a part of what their predecessors made. But without Chris Tucker and DJ Pooh, how does Cube handle taking Craig to the suburbs? Join us as we continue our series looking at the Friday franchise with Steve Carr’s 2000 film ‘Next Friday’.
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Friday • The Next Reel Jul 23, 2020

Ice Cube’s rap career was on fire because of the work he was doing with N.W.A., but after playing Doughboy in John Singleton’s 1991 film Boyz n the Hood, he got the acting bug and wanted to do more films. Join us as we kick off our new series looking at the Friday franchise with F. Gary Gray’s 1995 film Friday.
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Charade • The Next Reel Jun 25, 2020

Toward the end of Grant’s acting career, he had stopped playing the romantic interest, concerned how his age reflected in the on-screen relationships, particularly with younger women. After this point, he only played a romantic interest one last time, and it was opposite Audrey Hepburn in Charade.
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North by Northwest • The Next Reel Jun 18, 2020

It’s the second in our Cary Grant series this week, and this time we’re heading straight up the Presidents’ noses as we follow Hitch and crew to Mt. Rushmore and beyond in the 1959 classic ‘North by Northwest’.
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Arsenic and Old Lace • The Next Reel Jun 11, 2020

Cary Grant knew Frank Capra was busy casting for his new film, an adaptation of the Broadway hit Arsenic and Old Lace, and he knew that Ronald Reagan and Jack Benny had both turned the lead role down, so he told Capra he was interested and available. Capra was thrilled, and they set to work.
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Dinner for Schmucks • The Next Reel Jun 04, 2020

With such a strong curriculum vitae in comedy films, having Jay Roach direct a remake of Francis Veber's Le Dîner de Cons looks great on paper. But when it comes time to write, direct, and release the movie, does it hold up as well?
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Le Dîner de Cons (The Dinner Game) • The Next Reel May 28, 2020

Francis Veber had written plays, TV shows, and films. He had also directed plenty of well by the time he decided to adapt his hit play "Le Dîner de Cons" for the big screen. Luckily, his brand of farcical humor worked brilliantly with the film version, and it became a huge hit in his home country of France. Join us as we continue our Francis Veber & His Remakes series with his 1998 film "Le Dîner de Cons."
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The Birdcage • The Next Reel May 21, 2020

When Mike Nichols and Elaine May teamed up again for the first time in over thirty years, it was to adapt Francis Veber's most famous and celebrated works, the 1978 film La Cage aux Folles. Veber's films had been remade in English before — in fact, he'd directed a number of them — but this one was the big one so it needed to be big.
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La Cage Aux Folles • The Next Reel May 14, 2020

When asked to adapt the hit stage show "La Cage Aux Folles" to the big screen, director Édouard Molinaro knew he had to get comedy writer/director Francis Veber involved to not only get the story out of the one-set show and open up the world, but also — and more importantly — to flesh out the core relationship so the film wasn't just all stereotypes.
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Spoor • The Next Reel May 07, 2020

Is this an activist film? How does this film fit in director Agnieszka Holland's oeuvre? Does magical realism work in a crime drama? Tune in to this week's show to get answers to these questions and more.
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In Darkness • The Next Reel Apr 30, 2020

For Agnieszka Holland's third and final (she says) film about the Holocaust, she landed on a unique story that has shades of others before and after detailing gentiles saving Jews, but that's set in a very unique location – the sewers below the city.
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Europa Europa • The Next Reel Apr 23, 2020

When Agnieszka Holland was given early pages from Solomon Perel's unfinished memoirs about surviving the Holocaust, she was immediately taken by it. The fact that it was about a young Jewish boy who stayed alive by hiding out as one of the Hitler Youth among other things was fascinating to her, but it was his lack of embellishing and complete honesty that drew her in.
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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy • The Next Reel Apr 16, 2020

Many consider the 1979 mini-series adaptation of John le Carré's "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" to be not only the definitive le Carré adaptation but also that Alec Guinness to be the definitive George Smiley. Because of that, tackling the story again can be seen as a tricky task. Luckily, the team behind the film adaptation in 2011 found the right people, the right director, and the perfect actor to fill Guinness' shoes.
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The Little Drummer Girl • The Next Reel Apr 09, 2020

John le Carré's book "The Little Drummer Girl" was somewhat controversial as it managed to offend both the Israelis and the Palestinians in its depiction of its terrorism story. Controversy, however, can often be seen as a moneymaker, at least that's what the team at Warner Bros. must've thought when they set to work right away of adapting it and having George Roy Hill direct it.
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The Spy Who Came In From The Cold • The Next Reel Apr 02, 2020

When John le Carré wrote his third novel "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold," it was such a success and brought him so much acclaim that it essentially outed him as a spy for MI6. He'd been doing it for only five years, but in that time, he learned a great deal about how the machine worked and was able to bring that world to life with greater accuracy than had been seen before.
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BlacKkKlansman • The Next Reel Mar 26, 2020

Ron Stallworth's story seems ridiculous and unbelievable, but it's true – as an African American undercover cop with the Colorado Springs Police Department, Ron infiltrated the local KKK group with one of his fellow detectives and managed to bring them down. It's the sort of story that Spike Lee seems perfect for, so who better to direct it than Lee himself?
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Bamboozled • The Next Reel Mar 19, 2020

Does this feel like Spike Lee at his most Lee-ish? How effective is the satire in this film? Does Damon Wayans take his performance too far? Tune in to this week’s show for these answers and more.
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Do the Right Thing • The Next Reel Mar 12, 2020

Is it clear that Spike Lee has something to say with this film? How does the camerawork and production design work to enhance this world? Is this film still relevant in today’s society? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Le Samouraï • The Next Reel Mar 05, 2020

How influential has this film been over the years? Where does this film fit into the French crime films? Does anyone wear a trenchcoat and fedora like Alain Delon? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Rififi • The Next Reel Feb 27, 2020

How did Jules Dassin use this film to help break the blacklist? Are the criminal protagonists here easy to like? How do they so effectively amp up the tension in the robbery? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Le Trou • The Next Reel Feb 20, 2020

How does a docu-style approach work in telling this prison break story? What do the sound, editing and camerawork do to amplify the tension? How well do our new actors do in creating these characters? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Life of the Party • The Next Reel Feb 13, 2020

Where does this land in the Ben Falcone/Melissa McCarthy lineup of films they’ve made together? Should this be more than just a guilty pleasure? Is it okay to rank this higher than obviously better films like 'Autumn Sonata'? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Hudson Hawk • The Next Reel Feb 06, 2020

Is this rightly regarded as a guilty pleasure? Should Bruce Willis be allowed to write more scripts? Is the silly comedy just too much for the general public? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas • The Next Reel Jan 30, 2020

How does Dolly Parton do in her second film? Are there sparks with her and Burt Reynolds? Does a musical about a whorehouse work? Tune in to this week’s shows to get these answers and more.
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9 to 5 • The Next Reel Jan 23, 2020

Does this film feel dated or does it hold up today as much as it did 40 years ago? How well does Dolly Parton do in her first acting performance? Are Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Parton an example of a perfect on-screen trio? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Foul Play • The Next Reel Jan 16, 2020

How well do the jokes work for today’s world? Do Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase work as a romantic duo? Does Colin Higgins nail it for his first time directing? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Silver Streak • The Next Reel Jan 09, 2020

Is it obvious right out of the gate that Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor would make a great comedy duo? How are the thrills versus the laughs? Are there too many tropes used throughout this film? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more.
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Harold and Maude • The Next Reel Jan 02, 2020

Who is this Colin Higgins fellow and why are we talking about him? How resonant is Harold and Maude still? Are jokes about suicide okay in a context like this? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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All of Me • The Next Reel Dec 26, 2019

How funny are Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin together? Is this the start of more mature Martin comedy films? How well do they follow the rules they establish regarding body cohabitation… and does it matter? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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The Lonely Guy • The Next Reel Dec 19, 2019

Does this sad sack turn for Steve Martin work? How depressing can Charles Grodin get before he’s not funny anymore? How much work did Neil Simon have to do to adapt the original book? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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The Man With Two Brains • The Next Reel Dec 12, 2019

Do Reiner and Martin make another hit or flop? How funny is this parody/homage of mad scientist films? Does Kathleen Turner handle comedy well? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid • The Next Reel Dec 05, 2019

Can Steve Martin act opposite Humphrey Bogart? Does it work to intercut old films noir? Does the comedy kill the tone? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Pennies From Heaven • The Next Reel Nov 28, 2019

Was this film too much of a shift for Steve Martin’s comedy fans? How does it work as a musical? And why are they lip syncing? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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The Jerk • The Next Reel Nov 21, 2019

Does this work as well for people seeing it now for the first time? How do Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters do in it? Why’s it called The Jerk? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Dead Ringers • The Next Reel Nov 14, 2019

How brilliant is Jeremy Irons in this film? How did they do those twinning effects? Is this a 5-star Cronenberg film? Tune in to the show to get these answers and more!
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Videodrome • The Next Reel Nov 07, 2019

How effective is James Woods? Is this film more relevant today than it was when released? What’s up with the living TV? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Scanners • The Next Reel Oct 31, 2019

Is this movie more than just an exploding head? Does the world building give us enough to go with? Can we just like it because it’s fun? Tune in to the show to get these answers and more!
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The Brood • The Next Reel Oct 24, 2019

Is Cronenberg finally hitting his stride with this film? How much did Cronenberg’s life inform this art? And what’s up with those rage babies? Tune in to this week’s show to hear answers to these questions and more.
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Fast Company • The Next Reel Oct 17, 2019

To Cronenberg, ‘Fast Company’ is one of his many children, and like kids, they each are their own unique being.
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Rabid • The Next Reel Oct 10, 2019

How was adult film star Marilyn Chambers as the film’s lead? How effective are the body horror elements? Has Cronenberg improved since his last film? Tune in to get answers to these questions and more.
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Shivers • The Next Reel Oct 03, 2019

Are there signs right away that signify this is a Cronenberg film? How effective is the body horror? Or is it just a low budget horror movie? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more.
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Robin Hood (2010) • The Next Reel Sep 26, 2019

Do Scott and Crowe manage to pull off the definitive Robin Hood? Was it misleading to not announce this as an origin story in the title? Where does it stand as far as tropes for the myth? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Robin Hood: Men In Tights • The Next Reel Sep 19, 2019

Is Cary Elwes the perfect Robin Hood follow-up to Errol Flynn? How does this hold up to other films by Brooks? Is it timeless or dated? Tune in to this week’s show to hear these answers and more.
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Robin Hood (1991) • The Next Reel Sep 12, 2019

Why did this film get relegated to a TV release? How does it compare to other Hood tales? And why do Hood scholars love it so much? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more.
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Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves • The Next Reel Sep 05, 2019

Does Kevin Costner kill it in the movie or does he just kill the movie? Can we get more Alan Rickman? And what’s up with all the witchcraft? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more.
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Robin and Marian • The Next Reel Aug 29, 2019

How effective are Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn as love interests? Why does the film end the way it does? And is Connery really going commando style? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Disney’s Robin Hood • The Next Reel Aug 22, 2019

How influential was this film on people’s impressions of the Robin Hood tale? Does the animation style hold up? How about the voice actors? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Robin and the 7 Hoods • The Next Reel Aug 15, 2019

Is this a better Rat Pack film than 'Ocean’s Eleven'? How does ol’ Blue Eyes do as Robin Hood? Does it translate to gangster era Chicago? Tune in to this week’s episode to get these answers and more!
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The Adventures of Robin Hood • The Next Reel Aug 08, 2019

How does Errol Flynn compare to Douglas Fairbanks? Does this version of Robin Hood hold up as one of the best still? How did they do those arrow-in-the-chest stunts? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Robin Hood (1922) • The Next Reel Aug 01, 2019

Is Douglas Fairbanks as iconic a Robin Hood as Errol Flynn? What’s up with Lady Marian’s surname? How does Robin Hood slide down that tapestry so brilliantly? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more.
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Autumn Sonata • The Next Reel Jun 27, 2019

Was it worth the wait to finally get Ingrid and Ingmar together? Does the film hold up as Ingrid’s last theatrical film? How is it possible it didn’t start on the stage? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more.
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Murder on the Orient Express (1974) • The Next Reel Jun 20, 2019

How does Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot compare to the many other actors who have played him? Is this version a better adaptation than Kenneth Branagh’s? Why was Ingrid Bergman singled out as Best Supporting Actress? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more.
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Stromboli • The Next Reel Jun 13, 2019

Was this film worth the rupture in Ingrid Bergman’s marriage? What do we think of Italian neorealism? And why do people live on this island still? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Notorious • The Next Reel Jun 06, 2019

Does ‘Notorious' work better for us than 'Spellbound' did? How are Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman as a couple? And does Claude Rains convincingly play a Nazi war criminal? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Spellbound • The Next Reel May 30, 2019

Who do we buy more – Ingrid Bergman as a psychotherapist or Gregory Peck as her boss? How does this mystery hold up against Hitchcock’s other films? And what about that Dalí dream sequence? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Gaslight • The Next Reel May 23, 2019

How different is this version than the 1940 version? Did Ingrid Bergman deserve her Academy Award? And why was MGM trying to gaslight the world? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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For Whom The Bell Tolls • The Next Reel May 16, 2019

How involved was Hemingway in this production? Does Bergman have the same chemistry with Cooper that she did with Bogart? Does the adaption work? Tune in to this week’s show to hear these answers and more!
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Casablanca • The Next Reel May 09, 2019

How well do Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman work on screen together? Does Paul Henreid work as the other man? And how about that song? Tune in to this week’s show to hear us talk about these things and more.
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Chinese Puzzle • The Next Reel May 02, 2019

Cédric Klapisch returned to the world of Xavier, Wendy, Isabelle and Martine with his 2013 film Chinese Puzzle in a story that takes place 10 years after the previous film. Is it a return worth taking? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Spanish Apartment trilogy with Klapisch’s 2013 film.
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Russian Dolls • The Next Reel Apr 25, 2019

Did 'L’Auberge Espagnole' need a followup? Why is Xavier so unlikeable? Do the elements that work balance with the elements that don’t?
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L’Auberge Espagnole • The Next Reel Apr 18, 2019

How well does Cédric Klapisch paint the world of study abroad programs? Why does Audrey Tautou get such prominent billing? And where do we sign up to join the Erasmus Programme? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more.
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A Star Is Born (2018) • The Next Reel Apr 11, 2019

How well do Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga do in recreating these roles? How does this version stack up to the previous three versions? Which did we like the most? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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A Star Is Born (1976) • The Next Reel Apr 04, 2019

How’s the chemistry between Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson? Do any of these songs stand out today? Does the 70s vibe affect our appreciation of it? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more.
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A Star Is Born (1954) • The Next Reel Mar 28, 2019

How well do Judy Garland and James Mason do in the roles? Was Garland stable by this point in her career? How does this one hold up to the original one? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more.
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A Star Is Born (1937) • The Next Reel Mar 21, 2019

Why does this story connect with people so strongly that it keeps getting remade? How well do our two leads do at bringing us into this world? And what’s going on with Granny and her deus ex machina advice? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more.
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Creed II • The Next Reel Mar 14, 2019

Does Creed II stand up as a quality film or is it just another sequel? Did it make sense to bring back the Russians? Is this really Stallone’s last performance as the character Rocky Balboa? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more.
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Creed • The Next Reel Mar 07, 2019

How well does this film fit within the Rocky franchise? Does Michael B. Jordan work as Apollo Creed’s son? How does Stallone do as his mentor? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Rocky Balboa • The Next Reel Feb 28, 2019

Is Rocky too old to box? Should he have hung up the towel for the franchise and left well enough alone? Or is this a strong return to form? We answer these questions and more on this week’s show, so check it out then tune in!
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Rocky V • The Next Reel Feb 21, 2019

How does Rocky V hold up to the other films? Do Tommy Gunn and Duke work as the villains? What about Rocky’s relationship with his son? Does it work? Tune in to this week’s show to find out these answers and more.
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Rocky IV • The Next Reel Feb 14, 2019

Is this the most dated of the Rocky films thus far? Is Stallone losing his touch because he’s wearing too many hats? Did we need a robot? Tune in to this week’s episode to get these answers and more
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Rocky III • The Next Reel Feb 07, 2019

How well does this hold up compared to the first two? Does Mr. T’s Clubber Lang work as the antagonist? Does Stallone deliver with the characters and story? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more.
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Rocky II • The Next Reel Jan 31, 2019

Can the sequel hold its own to its predecessor? Do the characters grow and evolve in new ways? How are the fights? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Rocky • The Next Reel Jan 24, 2019

How well does this film hold up over four decades since its release? Does Stallone do well at double duty as writer and actor? And is this really a boxing movie or a 70s character piece? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Romeo and Juliet • The Next Reel Jan 17, 2019

Is it better or worse casting actual teenagers to play the title roles? How well does Zeffirelli handle the Bard? What are we really looking for in adaptations of this story anyway? Tune in to this week’s show to find out these answers and more!
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Rachel, Rachel • The Next Reel Jan 10, 2019

Is there more to the film than a great central performance by Joanne Woodward? Can Paul Newman direct? Would Estelle Parsons’ character have made a better character to follow? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Oliver! • The Next Reel Jan 03, 2019

Do the songs hold up? How strong of an adaptation is this of “Oliver Twist?” Did it deserve to win the Best Picture of 1968 Oscar? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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The Lion In Winter • The Next Reel Dec 27, 2018

How well do O’Toole and Hepburn do playing royalty? Are there any happy people in 1183? How did England survive these rulers? Tune in to this week’s show to hear us chat about The Lion in Winter!
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The Producers (2005) • The Next Reel Dec 20, 2018

Did the stage musical need to have a film remake? How do Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick at creating unique performances? Do Will Ferrell and Uma Thurman belong here? Tune in to this week’s show to find out these answers and more.
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The Producers (1968) • The Next Reel Dec 13, 2018

How well do Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder work with each other? Does the musical element hold up? How about the comedy? Tune in to this week’s episode to find out these answers and more!
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The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) • The Next Reel Dec 06, 2018

Does the pairing of Brosnan and Russo match the chemistry of McQueen and Dunaway in the original? How does the heist hold up? And what’s cooler – dune buggie or glider? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more.
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The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) • The Next Reel Nov 29, 2018

How well do Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway work together? What was the inspiration for the multi-screen images? Has there ever been a sexier game of chess played? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Once Upon A Time In America • The Next Reel Nov 22, 2018

Does Leone’s final film need to be this long? How does the story feel compared to his other films? Is this one of Ennio Morricone’s best scores? Tune in to this week’s shows to get these answers and more.
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Duck, You Sucker! • The Next Reel Nov 15, 2018

How does this film fit thematically with the other Once Upon a Time films? How are Rod Steiger and James Coburn in the film? And have you ever seen such disgusting, ugly eating? Tune in to this week’s show to get the answers to these questions and more.
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Once Upon A Time In The West • The Next Reel Nov 08, 2018

Does Leone’s fourth western stand up to his earlier trilogy? How is Henry Fonda as the baddie? Can Leone handle a woman being one of the main characters? Tune in to this week’s show to hear these answers and more.
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Day of the Dead • The Next Reel Nov 01, 2018

How does Romero’s final zombie film in his original trilogy hold up when compared to the other two? Do Tom Savini’s effects hold up? What about the story and acting? Tune in to this week’s show to get the answers to these questions and more!
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Dawn of the Dead • The Next Reel Oct 25, 2018

Does George A. Romero keep up with his social commentary in his zombie follow-up? How does the zombie gore work in color? What’s up with The Gonk? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Night of the Living Dead • The Next Reel Oct 18, 2018

Are fifty-year-old zombies scary today? How does the gore hold up? Did the actors really eat sheep intestines? Tune in to this week’s episode to find answers to these questions and more!
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Danger: Diabolik • The Next Reel Oct 11, 2018

Would a super-villain really use something called Exhilarating Gas? How well does John Phillip Law work as Diabolik? Is this a film we’d watch again? Tune in to this week’s show to find out our answers to these questions and more!
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The Detective • The Next Reel Oct 04, 2018

Does Sinatra hold his own as a down-and-dirty NYC detective? Could Lee Remick be any more marvelous? How does the film hold up 50 years later? Tune in to this week’s show to find out these answers and more.
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Coogan's Bluff • The Next Reel Sep 27, 2018

Is there any merit to Siegel’s and Eastwood’s first collaboration? How does the film hold up in Eastwood’s body of work? Did the film warrant the shift to the NYC party? Join us on this week’s show as we look for answers.
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Targets • The Next Reel Sep 20, 2018

How effective is Peter Bogdanovich’s first try at directing a film? Does Boris Karloff still provide the scares he once did? Is the film still relevant today? Tune in to this week’s show to hear our answers to these questions and more!
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Battle for the Planet of the Apes • The Next Reel Sep 13, 2018

How well does this film follow the unrated cut of the last film? Do the budget cuts show? Is Roddy McDowall still as good as ever or starting to show some boredom? Tune in to this week’s show to find out these answers and more!
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Conquest of the Planet of the Apes • The Next Reel Sep 06, 2018

How great is the return of both Ricardo Montalban and Roddy McDowall? What social commentary are we getting in this sequel? Could audiences handle the darker tone? Tune in to this week’s show to find out these answers and more!
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Escape from the Planet of the Apes • The Next Reel Aug 30, 2018

Are the script’s retcons problematic or do they end up working? What about the tonal shifts? And could Kim Hunter be any more gosh-darned adorable? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Beneath the Planet of the Apes • The Next Reel Aug 23, 2018

Does this film live up to its predecessor? Does it make sense in the franchise? Did we really need to see apes in the sauna? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!
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Planet of the Apes • The Next Reel Aug 16, 2018

Are these talking apes believable? How well does the message of the film hold up? Could Charlton Heston be any more over-the-top? Tune in to this week’s show to find out these answers and more!
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2010: The Year We Make Contact • The Next Reel Aug 09, 2018

Does this film stand up to Kubrick’s original? Is this where Roy Scheider started his career decline? Do the effects hold up? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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2001: A Space Odyssey • The Next Reel Aug 02, 2018

Is 2001 really one of the greatest films ever made or could Kubrick have used a better editor? Does the monolith really represent the movie screen? Is HAL one of the cinema’s great villains? Tune in this week to get these answers and more!
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Ocean's 8 • The Next Reel Jun 28, 2018

Do Sandra Bullock and her team work for this Ocean’s spinoff? Can Gary Ross bring the Soderbergh magic? Why does the film feel a bit more lackluster? Tune in to this week’s show to hear our thoughts on this and more!
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Ocean's Thirteen • The Next Reel Jun 21, 2018

Does the heist come off as well as it does in the other films? How does Al Pacino work as the villain? Why are there so few women? And is that really Matt Damon’s nose? Tune in to this week’s show to find out these answers and more!
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Ocean's Twelve • The Next Reel Jun 14, 2018

Does "Ocean's Twelve" hold up to everything started in the first film? Are there too many cons? And when did they really start? It’s a fun movie so check it out on this week’s show!
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The Sound of Music — Catherine Hand • The Speakeasy Jun 12, 2018

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is an ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this month’s episode, producer Catherine Hand joins us to talk about one of her favorite films, Robert Wise’s 1965 film The Sound of Music.
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Ocean's Eleven (2001) • The Next Reel Jun 07, 2018

Is there anything about the original that’s superior to this version? How effective is the team and their heist? Is Julia Roberts even necessary? Tune in to this week’s show to find out this and more!
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Ocean's 11 (1960) • The Next Reel May 31, 2018

Does the Rat Pack’s take on the Las Vegas heist hold up? How about the music? And does the ending work or ruin the film? Tune in to this week’s show to find out this and more!
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Predestination • The Next Reel May 24, 2018

How well do Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook do in bringing this story to life? How close did the Spierig brothers’ script adhere to Robert A. Heinlein’s original short story? Is there a logic to the time travel rules here? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Tune in to this week’s show to find out these answers and more!
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Interstellar • The Next Reel May 17, 2018

Is Nolan’s film Interstellar underrated or overrated? How scientifically accurate are the elements portrayed in the film? Will traveling through a black hole really leave you in the back of a bookcase? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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About Time • The Next Reel May 10, 2018

How well do Domnhall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams work as an on-screen pair? Does writer-director Richard Curtis do a good job with the time travel rules he establishes? And can Bill Nighy speak at our weddings? Join us this week to hear these answers and more!
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Timecrimes • The Next Reel May 03, 2018

Is the film really an allegory about adultery? When piecing it all through, does it make sense and hold up? Does our protagonist act of his own free will or is everything fated to happen? Tune in to this week’s show to hear our thoughts!
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Giant • The Next Reel Apr 26, 2018

How does James Dean fare opposite Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson? Did this film need to be 3 ½ hours long? Where does the name ‘Bick’ come from? And where are all the giants? Tune in to this week’s episode to get these answers and more!
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Rebel Without A Cause • The Next Reel Apr 19, 2018

Does the icon James Dean deliver the goods that warrant his status? How believable are he and Natalie Wood together? How does Sal Mineo fit in with the pair? And what’s with Mr. Magoo’s crazy apron? Tune in to this week’s show to hear us chat about all this and more!
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East of Eden • The Next Reel Apr 12, 2018

Does James Dean’s acting style lend itself well to this story or is it too big? Is is okay to watch an Elia Kazan film still, knowing he named names? Does Julie Harris work here? And how great is it to see Louis Smith pop up in a small role? Tune in to this week’s show to dig in more with us!
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All That Jazz — Nic Sadler • The Speakeasy Apr 10, 2018

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is an ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this month’s episode, cinematographer and inventor Nic Sadler joins us to talk about one of his favorite films, Bob Fosse’s 1979 film All That Jazz.
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Lady Vengeance • The Next Reel Apr 05, 2018

Is it possible to like a film that has such an offensive moment as this one does? Does Lee Yeong-Ae deliver the goods for her director? Was this trilogy secretly Park Chan-Wook’s way of taking vengeance on his audience? Tune in to this week’s show to find out!
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Oldboy • The Next Reel Mar 29, 2018

After the box office failure of his previous film, Park Chan-Wook worked hard with his next script to make something that would really draw people in. And it worked! His 2003 film 'Oldboy' was a huge box office success and garnered incredible praise for everyone involved.
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Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance • The Next Reel Mar 22, 2018

Did Park Chan-Wook set out to make a challenging film or did it just naturally end up that way? Who is the eponymous character? And what is Park saying about the nature of revenge in film? Tune in to this week’s show to find out!
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Detroit • The Next Reel Mar 15, 2018

Was this the right way to tell this story? How well do the actors carry the film? Why has this situation not been taught in history books? Join us on this week’s show to find out!
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Local Hero — Andy Nelson • The Speakeasy Mar 13, 2018

What makes this Scottish town so stinkin’ charming? What’s up with the webbed feet? And what does a re-recording mixer actually do? Tune in to this episode of The Next Reel’s Speakeasy with re-recording mixer Andy Nelson to hear answers to these questions and more!
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Point Break • The Next Reel Mar 08, 2018

What works better – Kathryn Bigelow’s action directing or the jiggly monkey technique? Who’s hunkier – Keanu Reeves or Patrick Swayze? What’s more thrilling – the surfing, the skydiving or the bank robbing? And can Gary Busey be in everything? Tune in to this week’s show about Point Break!
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Near Dark • The Next Reel Mar 01, 2018

Is Kathryn Bigelow’s solo directorial debut worth checking out? Is there enough ‘western’ in this vampire western? Is it weird that Bigelow ported over three of the acting team from Aliens? And are some vampires weirdly more susceptible to catching fire than others? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!
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Funny Girl • The Next Reel Feb 22, 2018

Is this film memorable for its story or for Streisand’s performance? What does Omar Sharif bring to the table? Does William Wyler’s direction stand out as top notch? And which song is a better representation of Babs – ’People’ or ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade?’ Join us for this week’s show to find out!
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Thoroughly Modern Millie • The Next Reel Feb 15, 2018

Could Julie Andrews do anything wrong in the 60s? Can Carol Channing really sing that low? Why couldn’t they have just given Pat Morita and Jack Soo names? Join us on this week’s show as we discuss Thoroughly Modern Millie!
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The Young Girls of Rochefort • The Next Reel Feb 08, 2018

Is there really this much pastel in Rochefort? Could Catherine Deneuve have been any more adorable? What’s up with the ax murderer element? Join us this week to find out!
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Mary Poppins • The Next Reel Feb 01, 2018

Would Julie Andrews have been better in My Fair Lady? How bad is Dick Van Dyke’s cockney? Was casting the Bride of Frankenstein as an angry nanny an in-joke? And just how do those actors dance with animated characters? Tune in to this week’s show to find out!
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A Good Day to Die Hard • The Next Reel Jan 25, 2018

Does Jai Courtney work as McClane Jr.? How many villains is too much? Did McClane really need to go to Russia? Tune in to this week’s show to find out more!
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Live Free or Die Hard • The Next Reel Jan 18, 2018

How does Bruce Willis work as the older John McClane? How is Mac Justin Long as his sidekick? And did Maggie Q really do her own stunts? We talk about all this and more on this week’s show!
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Dunkirk — Toby Oliver • The Speakeasy Jan 16, 2018

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is an ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this month’s episode, cinematographer Toby Oliver joins us to talk about one of his favorite films, Christopher Nolan’s 2017 film Dunkirk.
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Die Hard With a Vengeance • The Next Reel Jan 11, 2018

How well do Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson work together on screen? Would a straight-up version of the original script have been better? What about the alternate ending? Tune in to this week’s show to get our thoughts!
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Die Hard 2 • The Next Reel Jan 04, 2018

Does Renny Harlin amp this sequel up appropriately or does it go too far? Should John McClane be this unlikeable? And do the bad guys really ‘die harder’? Tune in to this week’s show to find out!
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Die Hard • The Next Reel Dec 28, 2017

Does John McClane represent the perfect everyday action hero? Is Hans Gruber one of cinema’s greatest villains? Why does this film work so well and still hold up? And does anyone talk to themselves as well as Bruce Willis? Join us on this week’s show to find out!
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The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest • The Next Reel Dec 21, 2017

Does Lisbeth finally win out? How does Noomi do in the role over the three films? Are they going to remake this? Tune in this week to find out!!
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The Girl Who Played with Fire • The Next Reel Dec 14, 2017

Is this film as good as its predecessor? Will Lisbeth ever let down her steel wall? And is it worth it seeing a more Millennium-centric story? Tune in this week to find out!
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Comscore's Paul Degarabedian • Behind the Sites Dec 10, 2017

Andy & Pete are joined by Paul Dergarabedian from comScore to talk about film analytics, how he got started in the business and his love for film.
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The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009) • The Next Reel Dec 07, 2017

Could anyone but Noomi Rapace have brought Lisbeth Salander to life so well? Does the director deliver a story told as cinematically as David Fincher? What’s better – the original or extended edition? Get answers to these questions and more in this week’s show!
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Labyrinth • The Next Reel Nov 30, 2017

Is this film less dark than The Dark Crystal? Does David Bowie feel like the goblin king? How good is Jennifer Connelly’s acting here? And why is Bowie wearing those pants? Tune in to be a part of the discussion!
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Treknology: The Science of Star Trek with Dr. Ethan Siegel • The Next Reel Nov 28, 2017

What’s this? More Trek? We can’t get enough of it! This week, author Ethan Siegel joins Pete to talk about the science of Star Trek, talking through those questions that stumped us during our film series.
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Wild Tales • The Next Reel Nov 23, 2017

Does this anthology film stand out in the sea of anthology films? Which story is the best? Do we all have a little “Bombita” living inside us? And who wants wedding cake? Tune in to find out!
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The Secret in Their Eyes • The Next Reel Nov 16, 2017

Who killed Liliana Coloto and what was their motivation? Did this film deserve its Best Foreign Language Film Oscar? How does Ricardo Darín stack up in a period piece? Tune in to this week’s show to find out!
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Son of the Bride • The Next Reel Nov 09, 2017

Does Ricardo Darín deliver yet again with Son of the Bride? How is the rest of the cast? How does the film handle Alzheimer’s and old age? Tune in to this week’s show to find out!
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Nine Queens • The Next Reel Nov 02, 2017

Is Ricardo Darín as effective a con artist as he thinks he is? Is this stamp con game he’s playing with Gastón Pauls going to work? And do we buy into this con game? Check out this week’s show to find out!
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Star Trek Beyond • The Next Reel Oct 26, 2017

Does the theme of unity come through well enough? Is the Yorktown the coolest spaceport ever made? Does Idris Elba really need that much makeup? Tune in to this week’s show to find out!
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Star Trek Into Darkness • The Next Reel Oct 19, 2017

Does Star Trek Into Darkness stand out as anything more than a fantastic-looking retread? Is Uhura’s role diminished to be the worrying partner? Would it have still worked if Cumberbatch wasn’t Khan? Tune in this week to get our thoughts on these questions and more!
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Star Trek • The Next Reel Oct 12, 2017

Does JJ Abrams give us more of what came before or breathe fresh life into the franchise? How well does this cast hold up? Does it feel like a Star Trek film? Tune in this week to get these answers and more!
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Star Trek: Nemesis • The Next Reel Oct 05, 2017

Is Tom Hardy a good choice to be Patrick Stewart’s clone? Does this story of the Romulans make a good entry? Did we need to see another version of Data? Tune in to this week’s show to find out!
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Star Trek: Insurrection • The Next Reel Sep 29, 2017

Is the fountain of youth an admirable quest for the Enterprise team? Is this film better or worse than remembered? And how awesome is F. Murray Abraham? Tune in to this week’s show to join the chat!
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Star Trek: First Contact • The Next Reel Sep 21, 2017

Was the Borg a strong enough villain or did they need the Borg Queen for the film? How well integrated is the first contact storyline? Tune in to this week’s show to get in on the conversation!
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Star Trek: Generations • The Next Reel Sep 14, 2017

Does Data’s emotion chip make for a better or worse character when used? Just what kind of torture was Soran performing on Geordi? Why does Guinan conveniently appear in the Nexus? Tune in to this week’s show to get in on the conversation!
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Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country • The Next Reel Sep 07, 2017

Does Nicholas Meyer return to make the best film of the franchise? Is Shakespeare really better in the original Klingon? Are Uhura’s earpieces actually comfortable? Tune in to our show to find out!
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Star Trek V: The Final Frontier • The Next Reel Aug 31, 2017

Is this movie really as bad as we remember? Can the story survive the bad humor burying it (alive)? And where does Uhura get her fans? Tune in to this week’s show to find out!
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Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home • The Next Reel Aug 24, 2017

Does time travel really work? How does the crew of the Enterprise survive in 1986? And were the whales perhaps just ordering dinner? Tune in this week to find out!
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Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • The Next Reel Aug 17, 2017

Does this film work as a sequel? Should Harve Bennett have hired a different writer? When they go searching for Spock, do they actually find him? Tune in this week to find out!
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Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • The Next Reel Aug 10, 2017

Is Khan one of the greatest villains of all time? Did Gene Roddenberry really ruin the ending for audiences? Does it matter if Khan and Kirk are ever in the same room? Tune in this week to find out!
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Star Trek: The Motion Picture • The Next Reel Aug 03, 2017

Is this a worthy start to a massive film franchise? Do the ‘79 effects hold up today? Is Shatner over the top? Why the love for split diopters? Tune in to dig in with us!
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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World • The Next Reel Jun 29, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we do our second Listener’s Choice episode of the year with listener Nick Langdon’s pick, Wright’s 2010 film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
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Kundun • The Next Reel Jun 22, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Melissa Mathison series with Martin Scorsese’s 1997 film Kundun.
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E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial • The Next Reel Jun 15, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – to find out as we continue our screenwriter Melissa Mathison series with Spielberg’s 1982 film E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.
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The Black Stallion • The Next Reel Jun 08, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our Melissa Mathison series with 1979’s The Black Stallion.
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Howl's Moving Castle • The Next Reel Jun 01, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our latest Hayao Miyazaki series with his 2004 film Howl’s Moving Castle.
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Spirited Away • The Next Reel May 25, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Hayao Miyazaki series with this beautiful film Spirited Away.
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Princess Mononoke • The Next Reel May 18, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our second Hayao Miyazaki series with his 1997 film Princess Mononoke.
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No • The Next Reel May 11, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our discussion of the films in Pablo Larraín’s unintentional trilogy with a conversation about 2012’s No.
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Silver Linings Playbook — Harry Gregson-Williams • The Speakeasy May 09, 2017

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is an ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this episode, film composer Harry Gregson-Williams joins us to talk about one of his favorite films, David O. Russell’s 2012 film Silver Linings Playbook.
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Post Mortem • The Next Reel May 04, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our ‘Pablo Larraín’s Unintentional Trilogy’ series with his 2010 film Post Mortem.
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Tony Manero • The Next Reel Apr 27, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our series on Pablo Larraín’s Unintentional Trilogy with his 2008 film, Tony Manero.
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Certain Women • The Next Reel Apr 20, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we conclude our Kelly Reichardt series with her 2016 film Certain Women.
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Meek's Cutoff • The Next Reel Apr 13, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Kelly Reichardt series with her 2010 film Meek’s Cutoff.
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Wendy and Lucy • The Next Reel Apr 06, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off a new series on director Kelly Reichardt with her 2008 lost dog film Wendy and Lucy.
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The Book of Eli • The Next Reel Mar 30, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we close the chapter on our Hughes Brothers series with their 2010 film The Book of Eli.
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From Hell • The Next Reel Mar 23, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our series on the Hughes brothers with their 2001 film From Hell.
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Menace II Society • The Next Reel Mar 16, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our Hughes Brothers series with their 1993 debut, Menace II Society.
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The Emigrants • The Next Reel Mar 09, 2017

It’s time for our first 2017 Listener’s Choice episode! Pony Prize winner Finn Frode, who’s from Norway but living in Sweden, won and selected a Swedish film with one of his favorite Norwegian actresses – Liv Ullmann. The film he selected is the first half of Jan Troell’s epic tale of immigration – 1971’s The Emigrants. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we dig into our latest listener’s choice film.
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The Great Wall • The Next Reel Mar 02, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Zhang Yimou series with his 2016 film The Great Wall.
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Hero • The Next Reel Feb 23, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Zhang Yimou series with 2002’s Hero.
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Raise the Red Lantern • The Next Reel Feb 16, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Zhang Yimou series with his fourth film, 1991’s Raise the Red Lantern.
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Ju Dou • The Next Reel Feb 09, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we dig into Chinese cinema and kick off our Zhang Yimou series with his third film, Ju Dou.
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The Danish Girl • The Next Reel Feb 02, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Transgender series with Tom Hooper’s 2015 film The Danish Girl.
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TransAmerica • The Next Reel Jan 26, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Transgender series with Duncan Tucker’s 2005 film TransAmerica.
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The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert • The Next Reel Jan 19, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our Transgender series with Stephan Elliott’s 1994 cult comedy classic The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
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Coming to America • The Next Reel Jan 12, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Eddie Murphy series with Landis’ 1988 film, Coming to America.
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Groundhog Day — Jim Jermanok • The Speakeasy Jan 10, 2017

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is an ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this month’s episode, writer, producer, director and former agent Jim Jermanok joins us to talk about one of his favorite movies, Harold Ramis’ 1993 film Groundhog Day.
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Beverly Hills Cop • The Next Reel Jan 05, 2017

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Eddie Murphy series with Martin Brest’s 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop.
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Trading Places • The Next Reel Dec 29, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off 2017 with a series celebrating several of Murphy’s 80s classic starting with his 1983 film Trading Places.
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Black Christmas • The Next Reel Dec 22, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we discuss this year’s holiday film, Bob Clark’s ‘74 film Black Christmas.
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The Godfather Part III • The Next Reel Dec 15, 2016

Join us – Andy Nelson and Pete Wright – as we wrap up our Godfather trilogy series with Francis Ford Coppola’s epilogue to the Michael Corleone story, 1990’s The Godfather, Part III.
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101 Dalmatians — Tom and Tony Bancroft • The Speakeasy Dec 13, 2016

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is our ongoing series in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this month’s episode, we’re honored to have two guests join us to discuss one of their favorite films – it’s the Bancroft Brothers! That’s right, twin brothers Tom and Tony Bancroft, both of whom are animators, are here to chat about Disney’s 1961 classic One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
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The Godfather Part II • The Next Reel Dec 08, 2016

Join us – Andy Nelson and Pete Wright – as we continue our Godfather trilogy series with Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 film The Godfather, Part II.
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The Godfather • The Next Reel Dec 01, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our Godfather trilogy with the movie that started it all, Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 film The Godfather.
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What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? • The Next Reel Nov 24, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Bette Davis series with Robert Aldrich’s 1962 film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?.
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All About Eve • The Next Reel Nov 17, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Bette Davis series with Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s 1950 film All About Eve.
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Now, Voyager • The Next Reel Nov 10, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Bette Davis series with Irving Rapper’s film Now, Voyager.
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The Little Foxes • The Next Reel Nov 03, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our Bette Davis series with William Wyler’s 1941 film The Little Foxes.
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The Philadelphia Story — Steve Miner • The Speakeasy Nov 01, 2016

This month in the Speakeasy, director Steve Miner (Friday the 13th Part 2, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later) joins us to talk about one of his favorites, George Cukor’s 1940 film The Philadelphia Story.
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The Fly • The Next Reel Oct 27, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we delve into the last Listener’s Choice episode of the year, this time with Matthew Medrano to discuss Cronenberg’s film "The Fly."
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Seabiscuit • The Next Reel Oct 20, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our “This Is Real Life, Jack!” series with Gary Ross’ 2003 film Seabiscuit.
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Black Hawk Down • The Next Reel Oct 13, 2016

Join us as we continue our “This Is Real Life, Jack” series with Ridley Scott’s powerful film "Black Hawk Down. Plus, we chat with Mark Bowden about this adaptation of his book.
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The Dish • The Next Reel Oct 06, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our “It’s Real Life, Jack” series with Rob Sitch’s 2000 film The Dish.
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Apocalypse Now — Paul Cameron • The Speakeasy Oct 04, 2016

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is an ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this month’s episode, cinematographer Paul Cameron joins us to talk about one of his favorite films, Apocalypse Now.
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The Magnificent Seven (2016) • The Next Reel Sep 29, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we conclude our Seven Samurai Family series with Antoine Fuqua’s 2016 remake The Magnificent Seven.
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A Bug's Life • The Next Reel Sep 22, 2016

Join us – Andy Nelson and Pete Wright – as we continue our Seven Samurai Family series with John Lasseter’s and Andrew Stanton’s 1998 A Bug’s Life.
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¡Three Amigos! • The Next Reel Sep 15, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Seven Samurai family series with the 1986 film ¡Three Amigos!.
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Heat — Jayson Crothers • The Speakeasy Sep 13, 2016

This month in the Speakeasy, cinematographer Jayson Crothers (The Ghost and The Whale, Chicago Fire) joins us to talk about one of his favorite films, Michael Mann’s epic 1995 crime drama, Heat.
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The Magnificent Seven (1960) • The Next Reel Sep 08, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Seven Samurai family series with John Sturges’ 1960 film The Magnificent Seven.
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Seven Samurai • The Next Reel Sep 01, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we start up our Seven Samurai Family series with Kurosawa’s 1954 masterpiece "Seven Samurai".
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Contagion • The Next Reel Aug 25, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we conclude our disease film series with Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 glimpse into how the world deals with a new disease outbreak: Contagion.
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Blindness • The Next Reel Aug 18, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we discuss the penultimate film in our Disease Films series, Fernando Meirelles’ Blindness.
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Children of Men • The Next Reel Aug 11, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Disease Films series with Alfonso Cuarón’s 2006 film Children of Men.
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Fat City — Sam Levy • The Speakeasy Aug 09, 2016

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is an ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this month’s episode, cinematographer Sam Levy joins us to talk about one of his favorite films, John Huston’s 1972 boxing film Fat City.
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Serenity • The Next Reel Aug 04, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Disease Films series with the conclusion of the “Firefly” story, 2005’s Serenity.
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Outbreak • The Next Reel Jul 28, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Disease Films series with Wolfgang Peterson’s ‘95 film Outbreak.
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The Crazies • The Next Reel Jul 21, 2016

Join us – Andy Nelson and Pete Wright as we continue our Disease Films series with George Romero’s 1973 film The Crazies.
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The Andromeda Strain • The Next Reel Jul 14, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our disease series with Robert Wise’s 1971 thriller The Andromeda Strain.
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The Omega Man • The Next Reel Jul 07, 2016

Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our disease series with the second adaptation of Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend," Boris Sagal’s 1971 film, “The Omega Man.”
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Never Let Me Go — Alana Morshead • The Speakeasy Jul 05, 2016

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is an ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this month’s episode, costume designer Alana Morshead joins us to talk about one of her favorite films, Mark Romanek’s 2010 film “Never Let Me Go” based on the book by Kazuo Ishiguro.
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Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb • The Next Reel Jun 30, 2016

Stanley Kubrick didn’t do comedy often which is a shame because “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” is arguably one of the funniest films ever made. What’s interesting is that Kubrick intended on making a serious film about one of his greatest fears at the time: the threat of nuclear war. But after several attempts at finding the right way to tell the story seriously (including one involving aliens watching us from above, discussing our penchant for destruction), he hit on the idea of making it funny. And his dark comedy classic was born.
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ParaNorman • The Next Reel Jun 23, 2016

Stop-motion animation has been a part of film since nearly the beginning, starting with a toy circus coming to life in 1898’s “The Humpty Dumpty Circus.” Since then, it’s undergone many critical changes and improvements as filmmakers have experimented with what they could do with it, and in 2012, Laika released the first stop-motion animated feature film to use a 3D color printer to create the character faces. The movie, “ParaNorman,” was a comedy horror for kids and certainly seemed to find its audience while also creating quite a bit of controversy.
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The Great Escape • The Next Reel Jun 16, 2016

It’s time for another Listener’s Choice episode, and we’re talking about one of the all-time WWII classics. That’s right, listener Michael Cook decided that it was time for us to discuss John Sturges’ 1963 film “The Great Escape,” and man, was he right on the money.
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Ministry of Fear • The Next Reel Jun 09, 2016

“Ministry of Fear” was Fritz Lang’s third film of four anti-Nazi movies that he made, but it feels less anti-Nazi and more just straight up Hitchcockian thriller. And while Lang didn’t like the final result of the film and Graham Greene, who wrote the novel on which the movie’s based, also didn’t like the film, it’s a very fun film to watch and feels a bit like Lang lite.
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Terminator 2: Judgment Day — Sarah Trost • The Speakeasy Jun 07, 2016

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is an ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this month’s episode, costume designer Sarah Trost joins us to talk about one of her favorite films, Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
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Man Hunt • The Next Reel Jun 02, 2016

1941 was an interesting time for the US as the country started the year off as a passive, neutral observer of what Germany and Hitler were doing in Europe and ended with the attack on Pearl Harbor, leading the US to officially enter WWII. And while Fritz Lang’s 1941 anti-Nazi film “Man Hunt” was rushed by Darryl F. Zanuck and 20th Century Fox into production then subsequently theatres to be current, they still had to contend with the Production Code and how the film would be seen by people while the Neutrality Act was still in effect. It’s a film that reflects the time in which it was made really well, giving us insight now not just how the filmmakers were thinking, but how society and the government were all thinking and working together (or against each other).
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M • The Next Reel May 26, 2016

When “M,” Fritz Lang’s first sound film, opened in 1931, it was clear that Lang already understood how to employ sound to his advantage in telling his story. Unlike many early ‘talkies,’ “M” isn’t wall-to-wall talking; instead, Lang used it as a sparse tool to help catch a killer. He balanced quiet moments with abrupt sharp noises. He brought in off-screen noises that affected those on-screen. He had voiceover. And of course, there is the murderer’s whistling of Peer Gynt’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King.” Lang was a master of his craft, and certainly not a director who would be held back by the advent of sound.
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Spies • The Next Reel May 19, 2016

Fritz Lang’s 1928 silent spy thriller “Spies” rarely gets brought up when people mention Lang and his filmography. Dwarfed by arguably two of his best made on either side of it – “Metropolis” and “M” – “Spies” was Lang’s first film outside the shell of Ufa, the German motion-picture company. It did well enough for itself, but not well enough to make a big mark in cinema. But if you watch it, you’ll see the birthplace for practically every spy movie trope that has been on screen since.
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Metropolis • The Next Reel May 12, 2016

Fritz Lang’s sci-fi classic has really been through the wringer since it’s premiere in 1927. After having been cut nearly in half then reshaped, people have struggled over the decades to restore the 2 ½ hour film to its full glory but to little avail. In 2008, however, a 16mm print of a horribly scratched copy of the nearly full version was found in Buenos Aires and the film was given new life. It’s since been beautifully restored and is a marvel to watch, even with the scratches.
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Kiss Kiss Bang Bang • The Next Reel May 05, 2016

Shane Black was gone from the scene for a decade before his return as not just writer but also director with 2005’s “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” a comedy crime mystery that unjustly largely flew under everyone’s radar. It was mostly critically acclaimed, but with Warner Bros.’ modest release plans and minimal advertising, it didn’t have much of a chance. And we’re hoping to rectify that. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Shane Black series with his directorial debut, “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.”
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Snatch. — Michael B. Koff • The Speakeasy May 03, 2016

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is an ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this month’s episode, sound mixer Michael B. Koff joins us to talk about one of his favorite films, Guy Ritchie’s crime comedy thriller from the year 2000, “Snatch!”
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The Long Kiss Goodnight • The Next Reel Apr 28, 2016

When New Line Cinema bought Shane Black’s spec script “The Long Kiss Goodnight” in 1994 for $4 million, it created a new record for the selling price of spec scripts for more than 10 years until 2005 when Terry Rossio’s and Bill Marsilii’s script “Déjà Vu” sold for $5 million. While Black walked away with a hefty paycheck, he had no idea that this sale and the subsequent underwhelming performance of the resulting movie would have a hand in the end of the halcyon days of spec script sales. The way that studios saw screenwriters changed. The way they approached projects changed. Some say the industry has changed for the better, some say for the worse. Whichever side you fall on the issue, Black found himself struggling to get work afterward.
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The Last Boy Scout • The Next Reel Apr 21, 2016

When Shane Black was paid $1.75 million for his spec script “The Last Boy Scout,” it was the most any screenwriter had been paid for their script up to that point. It wouldn’t take long before that record was broken, but the bar had been set – and more importantly, the expectations – for what Shane Black the screenwriter could deliver. Unfortunately, the production was riddled with problems and the film struggled to make its money back. It didn’t kill Black’s career, but it may have signaled the beginning of the end for the spec script boom happening in the early 90s.
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The Silent Partner — Craig Anderson • The Speakeasy Apr 19, 2016

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is an ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this month’s episode, actor, comedian and director Craig Anderson joins us to talk about one of his favorites, Daryl Duke’s Canadian bank heist thriller from 1978, “The Silent Partner.”
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Lethal Weapon • The Next Reel Apr 14, 2016

Shortly after graduating from UCLA, Shane Black sold his first screenplay to Warner Bros. to the tune of $250,000. That script was “Lethal Weapon.” Black didn’t know it at the time, but he was on his way to changing the way Hollywood thought about big blockbuster action films and about screenwriters as well. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our Shane Black series with Richard Donner’s 1987 film “Lethal Weapon.” We talk about how the film held up for us after our first viewings in our teen years. We chat about Black and his screenplay, looking at what’s in it, what’s not, and why his writing works so well. We look at Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as Riggs and Murtaugh, discussing everything from their partnership in this buddy cop movie to Mel’s hair and from Murtaugh’s family to Mel’s butt. We look at Gary Busey and talk about why he works well in this film. We chat about the stunts, notably Dar Richardson who lost his life right after principal photography finished. And we argue about the quality of Michael Kamen’s and Eric Clapton’s music. It’s a fun film, even if it doesn’t hold up to memories of it from our youth, so check it out then tune in to hear what we thought.
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The Hound of the Baskervilles • The Next Reel Apr 07, 2016

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce became synonymous with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson after appearing in 14 film versions of various stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Yet at the start, neither of them got top billing. Yet now, Rathbone’s look as the famous detective is the iconic look for him. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up this year’s series of films from 1939, commonly called the greatest year of cinema, with Sidney Lanfield’s 1939 version of the famous story.
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Goodbye, Mr. Chips • The Next Reel Mar 31, 2016

Robert Donat defied the odds and beat both Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart for the Best Actor Oscar in the 1939 Academy Awards with his portrayal of Mr. Chips in Sam Wood’s “Goodbye, Mr. Chips.” It’s a movie that celebrates school heroes everyone had (or should’ve) and connects in its ability to reflect back on the nostalgia of one’s life. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our series on films from 1939 with Wood’s film. We talk about how we felt about the film and, despite any issues we had, still found it affecting. We chat about Robert Donat and Greer Garson, both of whom really give touching and honest performances. We touch on Sam Wood as the director and what he brings to the table. We discuss the story and why stories about teachers can work so well, and why they work on us in particular. And we look at the magnificent work Jack Dawn did with the hair and makeup to bring Mr. Chips to life over the course of his 60+ years, from new hire to headmaster. It’s a touching film that works to connect us with this character and reminds us what we love about the best ‘great teacher’ movies. Check it out!
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The Wizard of Oz • The Next Reel Mar 24, 2016

Victor Fleming didn’t just direct two movies in 1939, he directed two of what many consider to be the greatest films made – ”Gone With the Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz.” Where the former, though, has more problems to contend with in today’s society, what with its depiction of slavery and race in the South during the Civil War, the latter is nothing but pure cinematic joy. Seen by more people than any other movie, “The Wizard of Oz” has become infused in who we are. Quotes from the movie can pop up in everyday conversation without people even realizing they’re quoting it. The songs – particularly “Over the Rainbow” – have been burned into our brains at an early age. It truly is a shining example of what cinema can be. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our ‘films of 1939’ series with one of the great cinema achievements, Flemings’ “The Wizard of Oz.” We talk about what makes this film so great and why it’s lasted so long, looking at everything from the story to the music to Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. We discuss Fleming as the main director putting the film together, the 14 writers tasked with bringing this script to life, and L. Frank Baum, the author of the original Oz stories. We chat about the actors – Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan, Margaret Hamilton, Jerry Maren, the Singer Midgets and more (not to mention Terry the dog as Toto) – and look at what they all bring to the table here. We chat about Buddy Gillespie’s special effects, Adrian’s costumes, Harold Rosson’s cinematography, Herbert Stothart’s music adaptation, Harold Arlen’s & Yip Harberg’s songs and Mervyn LeRoy’s & Arthur Freed’s producing, tying together all the elements they each were responsible for. And we comment on the popularity of the film, chat about it being a gay icon, and look at how it started at a loss but ended up making bank over the decades. It’s one of the greats and certainly one we have a lot of passion about discussing. Check it out!
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Stagecoach • The Next Reel Mar 18, 2016

When John Ford decided to helm “Stagecoach” in 1939, he hadn’t done a western since his days in the silent film era. Yet it was this film, along with his relationship with John Wayne, that would lead to him making arguably some of the greatest westerns in cinema. Yet with this film, it was really more of a chance to make a western that could be a bit more serious, not just another b-level shoot-em-up, while still making a movie that was pretty light and entertaining. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our series on films from 1939 with Ford’s “Stagecoach.” We talk about John Ford as a director and what he was trying to do with this film, pointing out some Ford-isms along with debating his strength as a filmmaker. We chat about Dudley Nichols’ script adapted from Ernest Haycox’s short story, enjoying what he did with the nine principal characters in the film, even if there were some pacing issues throughout. We discuss the cinematography of Bert Glennon and the way he and Ford shot the action sequences. We chat about stuntman and stunt coordinator Yakima Canutt, marveling at the amazing stunts he performs in the film while also feeling pretty horrified at the methods he devised to get the horses to fall on camera. And we touch on the cast, touching on what each of them bring to their roles. It’s a fun film, even if not one of our favorites, but still gives us a great movie to talk about. So check it out then tune in!
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The Women • The Next Reel Mar 11, 2016

After getting taken off what ended up being the biggest film of all time – ”Gone With the Wind” – George Cukor was given the adaptation of Claire Boothe’s very popular Broadway play, “The Women,” to direct. For someone called a ‘woman’s director,’ this was a good choice for both movies. That being said, it doesn’t mean Cukor’s film holds up well today. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we head back to our series on the year 1939 to really explore what made it the ‘best year of movies,’ and we kick it off with Cukor’s “The Women.” We talk about the screenplay for this film and why it doesn’t hold up today, while also wondering what made it hold up back then. We ponder the schizophrenic messages this movie espouses, trying to figure out if it’s meant to be an early feminist film or if it’s eschewing everything feminism is about. We talk about the cast, notably Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Paulette Goddard, Joan Fontaine and Virginia Weidler, and how they hold up with both the snappy dialogue and the painfully awkward story elements. We discuss Adrian and the meaning of a 10-minute technicolor fashion show in the middle of a film, trying to decide if there really is any meaning in it or if it’s just awkwardly lumped in there. And we learn all about the existence of divorce ranches in Nevada during this period in time and why it had to figure so prominently in the story. It’s a film that really didn’t work at all for either of us, but because of that, gives us a lot of fodder for conversation. Check out the film (or skip it and save yourself the time), then tune in!
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Behind the Sites with Matthew Buchanan of Letterboxd.com • Behind the Sites Mar 08, 2016

As part of our ongoing series on the people behind the sites and services that serve the film-loving community, today we’re talking to Matthew Buchanan, co-founder of Letterboxd.com. Letterboxd has become an indispensable service for film journalists, diarists, and fans, marked by a beautiful design and just the right mix of social connectivity. Matthew and team have created a robust community in Letterboxd, one that stands out on the Internet not only in calibre of discussion, but in kindness of its members.
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What's up, Doc? • The Next Reel Mar 04, 2016

It’s time for another Listener’s Choice episode! This time, 2015 Pony Prize winner Ben Lott gets to select and he chose Peter Bogdanovich’s 1972 screwball comedy “What’s Up, Doc?” Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we delve into one of Ben’s favorites. We talk about our initial expectations and experiences of this movie and how this film improves with conversation and when watched with a group of friends. We chat about the nature of screwball comedy and how it can be very difficult to jump back into an old genre but how well the writers David Newman, Robert Benton and Buck Henry pull it off here. We discuss our issues with the daffy dame played by Barbra Streisand and how she really compares to a psychopath or thief, despite the fact that once you get past the setup of the film, she really is a fun character that we grow to love. We chat about the other performers in the film, notably Ryan O’Neal and Madeline Kahn, and discuss what they bring to the table. And we talk about the nature of the comedy in the film and look at several sequences that stand out as the highlights. It’s a really fun movie that we’re glad to have seen, so thanks, Ben! So check out the movie then tune in to the conversation!
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Room — Dee Wallace • The Speakeasy Mar 01, 2016

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is a new ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this month’s episode, actress Dee Wallace joins us to talk about one of her relatively new favorites, Lenny Abrahamson’s amazing film “Room.”
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The Departed • The Next Reel Feb 26, 2016

“The Departed,” Martin Scorsese’s 2006 remake of “Infernal Affairs,” is the film he finally won his Oscar for. It’s a strong crime film and is definitely a Scorsese film with incredible camera work and intense violence, but is it as good as the original? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Movies & Their Remakes series with Scorsese’s “The Departed.” We talk about what we thought of this film when we first saw it and now how it compares to its predecessor. We chat about the script and how William Monahan approached the adaptation of the original story into a South Boston setting. We discuss the actors – Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga, Mark Whalberg and the rest – and how well they work for us (or don’t in some cases). We touch on Scorsese and how much this film fits right in with his output. We hit on other crew members and what they bring to the table, from editing to composing to cinematography and more. And we debate just how good the actors’ South Boston accents are and how effective we are at pinpointing them. It’s a great action movie that may have diminished in quality after such a recent viewing of “Infernal Affairs,” and it certainly has its share of problems, but we have a great time talking about it on this week’s show. Check it out!
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Behind the Scenes on Filmumentaries with Jamie Benning • Behind the Sites Feb 23, 2016

As a part of our series on the movie sites we love, today we’re talking about one of our favorite movie projects. Jamie Benning has become, through great effort and time, custodian to the behind the scenes media of our most iconic films of the 70’s and 80s through his ultimate fan creations: Filmumentaries. In addition to his feature Filmumentaries on the original Star Wars trilogy, Raiders, and Jaws, he’s released a series of shorts furthering his contribution to the body of film analysis, and cementing his position as primary source for schleps like us.
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Infernal Affairs • The Next Reel Feb 19, 2016

“Infernal Affairs” may have won seven out of the sixteen Hong Kong Film Awards it was nominated for in 2002, including beating Zhang Yimou’s “Hero” as Best Film, but the majority of Americans probably didn’t hear of it until it was remade by Martin Scorsese four years later as “The Departed.” And while that’s a shame that it took so many people so long to discover this 2002 Hong Kong gem by directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, it’s great that they did discover it. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Movies & Their Remakes series with Lau’s and Mak’s crime thriller “Infernal Affairs.” We talk about the title, why it’s silly to overexplain the English title, what the original Chinese title “The Unceasing Path” means and things you can read about the film from it. We discuss the actors, primarily Tony Leung and Andy Lau (not related to the director), and how so many of the actors here are performers in other capacities. (Cantopop, anyone?) We chat about the almost pathetic role the women play in this version of the story. And we hit on the taut storytelling style exhibited here which lets us really focus on the struggle the two main characters go through. It’s a wonderful film and definitely worth watching regardless of whether you’ve seen “The Departed” or not. So give it a shot then tune in!
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Outland • The Next Reel Feb 12, 2016

In the early 80s, Peter Hyams was trying to get a western made. Unfortunately for him, no studio was interested in the genre right then; as far as they were concerned, westerns were dead. Then Hyams made the realization that westerns were still alive but that they’d been transposed to the world of sci-fi. And with that, he wrote “Outland.” Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Movies and Their Remakes series with the ‘remake’ of “High Noon,” Hyams’ 1981 film “Outland.” We talk about the comparisons between this film and “High Noon,” and deliberate on the screenplay structure here, noting how the waiting-for-the-showdown bit works so much better here because there’s so much more story before getting into it. We chat about Hyams and the look he achieves with his DP Stephen Goldblatt and production designer Philip Harrison, not to mention Introvision, the amazing model work and megasound. We discuss Sean Connery, Peter Boyle, Frances Sternhagen and more, looking at what they each bring to the table. We touch on the fun special effects of heads blowing up and people decompressing in space and mention what really happens to a human body in decompression. And we chat about Jerry Goldsmith, chalking up another great score to one of our favorite ‘J’ composers. It’s a really fun sci-fi romp that not enough people are talking about, so check it out and tune in!
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High Noon • The Next Reel Feb 05, 2016

“High Noon” is often cited as one of the greatest westerns ever made, and a lot of that praise is likely because it was so different from other westerns at the time. It was bleak and black-and-white. There was hardly any action in it. And it was a character piece. This story didn’t have to be set in the old west – it could work in many genres (as we’ll explore next week). It’s more about the protagonist and his struggle to stay true to what he believes in the face of incredible odds. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our Movies and Their Remakes series with Fred Zinnemann’s 1952 classic “High Noon.” We talk about why this film works, but more specifically why it doesn’t work as well for us on this most recent rewatch. We chat about Gary Cooper and our struggles with him as an actor, despite him being such a popular performer. We discuss the history of this script and story, and how it got tangled up with HUAC. We talk about Zinnemann and his cinematographer Floyd Crosby, the look they went for in the film, what they did with the camera and why they didn’t do more of it. We touch on the earworm of a song and how it really saved the movie. And we deliberate on the nature of real-time storytelling and its implications in making a gripping yarn. It’s a classic, to be sure, but not one that was at the top of our lists. Inevitably, problems with a film make for a great conversation so make sure you check out the movie and tune in!
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Casino Royale — Matthew Gratzner • The Speakeasy Feb 02, 2016

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is a new ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this month’s episode, visual effects supervisor and director Matthew Gratzner joins us to talk about one of his faves, Martin Campbell’s reboot of the James Bond franchise that introduced us to Daniel Craig’s 007, “Casino Royale.”
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The Edge • The Next Reel Jan 28, 2016

Lee Tamahori’s first foray in Hollywood, ‘Mulholland Falls,’ didn’t fare all that well. Luckily, his follow-up with 1997’s ‘The Edge’ made money and allowed him to keep working in the business. (Though if you look at his foray in the Bond franchise, ‘Die Another Day,’ maybe it’s not so lucky after all.) But does the movie feel like something from a David Mamet script? Or does it fall into formulaic Hollywood junk? Join us—Pete Wright and Andy Nelson—as we wrap up our ‘David Mamet as a screenwriter’ series with ‘The Edge.’ We talk about why this film doesn’t work for us overall, even if there are some redeeming elements here and there. We chat about Mamet and debate about how perhaps writing for the Great Outdoors really isn’t for him. We discuss the actors, notably Alec Baldwin, Anthony Hopkins and Harold Perrineau, and how they fare in the wilderness. We chat about Bart the Bear and his Hollywood legacy. We look at the cinematography and try to figure out why Donald McAlpine’s work here feels like it was shot on backlots, not the gorgeous backdrops of the Canadian Rockies. And we bring up Jerry Goldsmith, the legendary composer, who lends his hand here to compose what ends up being a strong theme that’s perhaps repeated a few times too many. It’s a frustrating film to rewatch as it certainly brought our memories of it down a bit, but definitely is a fun one to talk about. Check it out (or don’t) then tune in!
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Nathan Chase & Jeremy Thompson from Flickchart.com • Behind the Sites Jan 26, 2016

As a part of our series on the movie sites we love, you’d probably guess that we couldn’t go very far without talking to Nathan Chase and Jeremy Thompson, the team behind Flickchart.com. Over the years, Flickchart has become central to our own ranking of films we review on this show, and offers a fun — if enormously frustrating at times — paradigm for stack ranking our favorites. It’s at once a service and an addiction, and we’re thrilled to be able to sit down with Nathan and Jeremy to hear how it all came to be.
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Glengarry Glen Ross • The Next Reel Jan 21, 2016

David Mamet won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984 with his play “Glengarry Glen Ross.” The play really exemplified Mamet-speak and its transition to film retained that, despite the fact that it took eight years to make it to the silver screen.
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The Untouchables • The Next Reel Jan 15, 2016

Brian De Palma was coming off a couple of box office disappointments when he signed on to bring David Mamet’s script “The Untouchables” to life. The studio was hoping for something akin to a movie version of their old TV show but this team opted to tell a more focused story, and that is both the success and failure of this movie. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our ‘Mamet as screenwriter’ series with 1987’s “The Untouchables.” We talk about what works in Mamet’s script and what doesn’t, and why elements aren’t working the way they should. We chat about De Palma and all of the De Palma-isms that he delivers here, never one to disappoint. We look at the key actors in the film – Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro, Andy Garcia and Charles Martin Smith – and what they each bring to the table, particularly Connery in his Oscar-winning performance. And we touch on the technical with Ennio Morricone’s score, the fantastic production design and the noirish title design. It’s a film that unfortunately didn’t hold up for us this go-around, despite still being able to get enjoyment from it. It’s worth the watch, particularly if you haven’t seen it before, so check it out then tune in!
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Get your Trailer Fix on Trailer.Town with Founders Joel Farris & Alex Carvalho • Behind the Sites Jan 12, 2016

A few weeks ago, we ran across a new site dedicated to movie trailers. It’s called Trailer.Town and it’s a clean, well-organized home for our favorite form of promotion. This week on Shorts, we’re joined by Joel Farris and Alex Carvalho, half of the Trailer.Town team and founders of the site to talk about trailers, spoilers, and the importance of curation in a messy Youtube world.
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The Verdict • The Next Reel Jan 08, 2016

David Mamet wrote screenplays for several years before he jumped into the director’s seat, and while some of them still distinctly sound like Mamet’s writing, others really don’t. The ‘Mamet Speak’ isn’t there, or perhaps it’s just less obvious. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off another Mamet series, this time focusing on films he worked on only as screenwriter. We start this series with his second screen credit as screenwriter, Sidney Lumet’s 1982 courtroom drama “The Verdict.” We talk about what works for us with Mamet’s script and what doesn’t, and really try to figure out why – is it not Mamet enough? We chat about the actors, from Paul Newman and Jack Warden to Charlotte Rampling and James Mason, and what they bring to the table. We really get into the look of the film, discussing Andrzej Barkowiak’s cinematography, Edward Pisoni’s production design and John Kasarda’s art direction, analyzing how they use their tools to tell this story. And we get into some subplots, really trying to resolve some issues that the film leaves hanging. It’s a strong courtroom character study, even if it wasn’t strong enough to take on Gandhi at the Oscars. Check it out then tune in!
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My Favorite Year — Abraham Benrubi • The Speakeasy Jan 05, 2016

The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is a new ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and, instead of bringing their favorite cocktail, we have them bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this inaugural episode, actor Abraham Benrubi joins us to talk about one of his faves, Richard Benjamin’s 1982 comedy gem “My Favorite Year,” starring Peter O’Toole and Mark Linn-Baker.
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Boogie Nights • The Next Reel Dec 31, 2015

Happy New Year! Goodbye 2015, hello 2016. And what better way to kick off the new year of shows than with Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 epic glimpse into the golden age of porn. With an epic New Year’s party that transitions the story from the halcyon days of porn in the 70s to its characters’ declines in the 80s, “Boogie Nights” is a great way to celebrate the previous year and welcome the new one. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we discuss Paul Thomas Anderson’s second film, “Boogie Nights.” We talk about the story and why it works so well for us, regardless of the industry it presents. We chat about Anderson and what he brings to the table, highlighting so many strengths that show why he is still such a tremendous force in the film business. We discuss the actors, from Mark Wahlberg and Burt Reynolds to Julianne Moore and don Cheadle, touching on what brought them to this film and how well they work with Anderson in his story. And we cover the cinematography by Robert Elswit and editing by Dylan Tichenor. It’s really a magnificent film, even if it does make us feel a bit dirty by watching it. Check it out then tune in!
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Gremlins • The Next Reel Dec 24, 2015

‘Tis the holiday season, which means it’s time for another Next Reel Christmas movie, and how better to share in the joy and festivities of the Christmas season than with some wacky laughs and slimy gore from Joe Dante’s 1984 horror comedy “Gremlins.” Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we celebrate another end of the year with some holiday cheer (and mayhem), this time with Gizmo, Stripe, Billy, Kate, Mrs. Deagle, Barney and the rest of the residents of Kingston Falls (aka Universal’s backlot). We talk about our impressions of this film from when we were young and how those changed (or didn’t) since then. We chat about the actors, from Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates to Polly Holliday and Howie Mandel, and what they brought to the table. We discuss Jerry Goldsmith’s score and why it works really well for Andy while not so much for Pete. We talk about Chris Walas and his creature effects, and banter about the script and how it really is pretty simplistic. And we touch on what Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante and Chris Columbus all bring to the table here. It’s a fun film, one that certainly seems to have held up better for Andy than it has for Pete, and definitely fun to talk about. Check the movie out then tune in!
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The Next Reel's 2016 Announcement Extravaganza! • The Next Reel Dec 22, 2015

Hey folks! Please listen to this episode! We tried to keep it short, but we need to tell you about a few things you'll be seeing come January 2016 which, if you don't listen now, may come as a surprise later.
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National Lampoon's Vacation • The Next Reel Dec 17, 2015

Harold Ramis’ second foray into feature film directing introduced the world to the Griswolds – Clark, Ellen, Rusty and Audrey – as they drive from Chicago to LA on a 2-week vacation with the aim of visiting an obvious Disneyland replacement for legal reasons, Walley World. It’s a wonderful film and proved to be another box office success for Ramis, who wouldn’t direct another hit like this for 10 years with ‘Groundhog Day.’ Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our very short Harold Ramis series with the classic 1983 road trip comedy “National Lampoon’s Vacation.” We talk about the original John Hughes story on which this is based and look at the darker tones in that story, comparing it with how it was reshaped in this film. We discuss the cast, notably Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, Imogene Coca (and her dog), Randy Quaid, Christie Brinkley and Eddie Bracken. We chat about the ending of the short story, the original ending and the rewritten ending and debate what works best (and what problems this one may have because of the final ending). And we, of course, talk about the franchise, comparing this with what we view as the only other good one in the bunch, 1989’s ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.’ It’s a comedy classic and a great way to finish our Ramis series, so check it out then tune in!
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Stripes • The Next Reel Dec 11, 2015

Harold Ramis made his big screen debut acting in Ivan Reitman’s 1981 military comedy “Stripes,” which he also co-wrote for Reitman, having worked on “Animal House” and “Meatballs” with him a few years before. He’d go on to appear in a number of films throughout his career, and generally played the straight man to people like Bill Murray. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Harold Ramis series with 1981’s “Stripes.” We talk about how this film may have worked in the past but how it didn’t really work well for us in the present. We chat about the comedy and why some of it works but why much of it falls flat, possibly due to the editing, or the writing, or the directing, or the performances, or the time period, or all of it. We discuss the structure of the script and why it really should have ended after the second act. And we go through the talent, from Murray and Ramis to the wonderful old timer Warren Oates and all of the first timers popping up here all babyfaced and eager to act. It’s not a film that we really clicked with while knowing that many hold it near and dear in their hearts. That being said, we still have a great time talking about it and spoiling it rotten. So check it out and tune in!
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Caddyshack • The Next Reel Dec 03, 2015

With a background at Second City and National Lampoon, comedy was right up Harold Ramis’ alley, and while he had early opportunities to write and perform comedy, it wasn’t until the third feature film on which he was involved that gave him the opportunity to direct. Luckily for him, that movie was “Caddyshack” and the rest, as they say, is history. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we begin our Harold Ramis series with his directorial debut from 1980 – “Caddyshack.” We talk about Ramis and his co-writers, Brian Doyle-Murray and Douglas Kenney, how they came up with the idea for the script and how so much of what ended up on the screen was improvised. We discuss the older talent – Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight and Bill Murray – and how their performances really forced the filmmakers to diminish the story of the caddies, notably Michael O’Keefe, and what are thoughts are on this. We chat about the story of the kids as it compares with the story of the adults and what our thoughts are on these two stories. We talk about the gopher and how he figures into the story. And we chat about how endlessly quotable this movie is. It’s one of the best, if not the best, golf movies out there and certainly a fun movie to add to our list. So check it out then tune in!
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The Boring Flickchart Re-Ranking • The Next Reel Nov 30, 2015

Pete and Andy go through the tedious... yet entertaining?... task of re-ranking our Flickchart feed.
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Viridiana • The Next Reel Nov 27, 2015

It’s time for another Listener’s Choice episode, and boy, do we have a doozy this week. Listener Diego Luis Contreras López wanted us to talk about a film from Spain and settled on Luis Buñuel’s return to his home country (and immediate departure thereafter) with his 1961 film “Viridiana.” Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we delve into our sixth listener’s choice with “Viridiana.” We talk about our previous (and limited) experiences with Buñuel and what our expectations were with this film, contrasting that with how we ended up feeling about the film. We discuss the many things Buñuel was doing and saying with this film and how that ties into the actual story of Viridiana. We chat about the performances, notably Silvia Pinal, Fernando Rey, Francisco Rabal and Margarita Lozano, and how much we liked all of them. We debate the look of the film and José F. Aguayo’s cinematography and how it was affected by Buñuel’s desire to put the importance of coming in on time and under budget ahead of sloppy filmmaking sometimes. And we look at the film’s release, the reaction to it from the Catholic Church and its banishment from several countries leading to more of an underground screening history after its win at Cannes. It’s a film in which we found a lot of meat to discuss and are thrilled to add it to the films we’ve discussed. Tune in!
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The Wind Rises • The Next Reel Nov 20, 2015

With the 2013 release of “The Wind Rises,” his eleventh feature film, Hayao Miyazaki retired from making his beautiful animated films. Animation fans worldwide were disappointed to hear this, yet thrilled to see him go out on such a high note. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we close our Miyazaki series with his final film “The Wind Rises.” We talk about the direction of Miyazaki’s career and how it took him to this story as his final output. We chat about the nature of dreams and nature and how these elements become the key connections to Miyazaki’s touch that he’s had through his other films. We discuss the nature of biopics and how an animated biopic full of fictional elements ends up feeling to us when looking at how it connects with the real Jiro Horikoshi and his role as a Japanese airplane designer pre-WWII. We debate Miyazaki’s decision to tell this particular story and how it reflects on his pacifism. We touch on the voice casts in both the English and Japanese versions, commenting on who worked well for us. And we bring up Joe Hisaishi, the film’s composer, and the beautiful music he contributed here as well as in “My Neighbor Totoro,” which we forgot to bring up last week. It’s a great film that is certainly worth watching and discussing. Tune in!
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My Neighbor Totoro • The Next Reel Nov 13, 2015

With the creation of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki and the other filmmakers involved had created a place where they could create the films they wanted to make. With “My Neighbor Totoro,” Miyazaki’s third feature film and second he directed under the Ghibli banner, it was crystal clear what Miyazaki wanted to bring forth from his films — the relationship between man and nature, the purity and innocence of youth and the imaginative look at characters who didn’t quite fit the world as we know it. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our brief Miyazaki series with his 1988 film, “My Neighbor Totoro.” We discuss the elements of this film that we like so much, particularly the pacing and whether one could call it boring or not (note: neither of us do). We talk about the simplicity of the story but how through that simplicity there are some large ideas being dealt with. We chat about the voice cast and how the current English dub works for us, commenting on the problems people on Amazon have with it (despite the fact that an animated film is ALWAYS going to be dubbed, even in its original language). And we talk about the nature of the forest spirits and how we them through the eyes of children. It’s a beautiful, touching, quirky film that we love and are thrilled to talk about on the show. Tune in!
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Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro • The Next Reel Nov 06, 2015

Hayao Miyazaki began his career with television and it was the show “Lupin III” that gave him the chance to direct both for the small screen as well as for the big screen with the second story about Lupin the Third in 1979. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin our short Hayao Miyazaki series with his first theatrical feature film, _Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro_. We talk about the history of the character of Lupin III in Monkey Punch’s original manga series, in the TV series and its films, as well as in the Arsène Lupin character he’s loosely based on (and related to) created by Maurice Leblanc. We discuss the elements within the film and what feels like Miyazaki touches, even at this early stage in his career. We compare the interesting world of manga and anime as compared to Disney films in particular. And we chat about the casts: the original Japanese, the 1992 English dub version and the 2000 dub. It’s a fun film, maybe not one of our favorites, but still something that’s got action, comedy and entertainment for the family. Check it out then tune in!
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Children of the Corn • The Next Reel Oct 29, 2015

Stephen King may not like the film version of ’Children of the Corn,’ but considering it spawned 7 sequels and a remake, we’d like to think that he’s at least making a decent profit on his short story from 1977. This movie started careers for Linda Hamilton, Courtney Gains, John Franklin and Peter Horton and has created quite the cult following, no matter what King — or we — think of it. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we wrap up our Naughty Children series with this movie. We talk about why we don’t like it and really try to get to the bottom of what problems we feel the story has. We discuss the adaptation from King’s short story and how it changed, comparing the ’84 film with the ’09 Syfy Channel remake that was more faithful to the original King story. We chat about the effects and the overall look of the film, touching on how low budget production can lead to that (though doesn’t have to). And we have a first on the show — a Flickchart reranking! Check out the movie (or don’t) and tune in to the show. It’s arguably more enjoyable than the movie!
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The Innocents • The Next Reel Oct 22, 2015

Thus far, our series to celebrate Halloween — the Naughty Children series — hasn’t really been that scary. “The Bad Seed” is labeled a crime/drama/horror but comes across a bit more as a comedy now with the over-the-top performances. “Village of the Damned” is labeled a horror/mystery/sci-fi but doesn’t have much in the way of horror. This week’s film, Jack Clayton’s 1961 film “The Innocents,” really feels like the first in the series that’s got real scares in it, and scares that still hold up today. Martin Scorsese even put it on his list of 11 most scary films. And a lot of that is because of the atmosphere Clayton and his screenwriters (mostly Truman Capote) created with this adaptation of Henry James’ “The Turn of the Screw.” Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Naughty Children series with “The Innocents.” We talk about how much each like this film — Andy as the veteran of the film and Pete as the newbie — any why it works so well. We chat about Deborah Kerr in a role that exemplifies the ambiguity in the story and how it works so well in context of the decaying nature Capote riddled throughout the screenplay. We talk about Jim Clark’s editing and Freddie Francis’ cinematography, as well as Georges Auric’s score, noting how well they each work to add to the atmosphere in this film. And we marvel at Martin Stephens’ performance here, vastly different (and superior) to his performance in “Village of the Damned.” It’s a brilliant film that we’re thrilled to add to our list, so check it out and then tune in!
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Village of the Damned • The Next Reel Oct 15, 2015

John Wyndham’s 1957 novel “The Midwich Cuckoos” is the foundation for Wolf Rilla’s 1960 film “Village of the Damned.” It’s hard to say which title may actually be worse, but the story in both seems to work for most people. It’s a decent sci-fi story that, while dated, creates an interesting scenario with all the women in a village being impregnated at the same time by some alien force. Even with that interesting scenario, however, for every element that works in favor of the film, there seems to be another working against it. At least with today’s eyes. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Naughty Children series with Rilla’s 1960 film “Village of the Damned.” We talk about what works and what doesn’t, as well as why some of that matters more when it comes to actual enjoyment of the film (at least for Andy) and what they could have done to make it better. We chat about the performances, notably George Sanders, Barbara Shelley and Martin Stephens, and what they bring to the table. When it comes to Shelley, we also chat about the fact that her part is largely dismissed and why it bothers us so much. We discuss the look of the film with Rilla’s documentary approach as well as cinematographer Geoffrey Faithfull’s overall look, which worked nicely for us. And we look at MGM’s history with the film and touch on why they filmed it in England instead of Hollywood. It’s a fun film that, if you think too much about, you’ll find tons of problems; Pete sees the problems while Andy sees the fun. Check out the movie then tune in!
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The Bad Seed • The Next Reel Oct 08, 2015

It’s October, which means it’s time for some scares! This year, we’re celebrating with those lovable little children who just are downright bad. Our first film of the series gives us a young girl who turns out to be a malicious killer, but only because it’s her way to get the things that she wants. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we kick off our Naughty Children series with Mervyn LeRoy’s 1956 classic “The Bad Seed.” We talk about why this film works for us in all of its campy, over-the-top theatrical glory and how those elements may actually help make it more enjoyable today. We chat about the performances, notably Patty McCormack, Nancy Kelly, Henry Jones, Eileen Heckart and Evelyn Varden, and how well they worked for us, particularly Kelly and McCormack as mother and her murderous offspring. We discuss the Hays Code and how it influenced the filmmakers to change the ending, even if the ending ends up being almost more censorable. We touch on the script and the amount of subtext in the characters’ dialogue, particularly the women who were always trying to live up to the 50s housewife standards. And we hit on the cinematography and music, noting how well the music works but how standard the cinematography feels. It’s a fun film that may not be the top of our lists but is a very easy watch. Check it out then tune in!
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Snowpiercer • The Next Reel Oct 01, 2015

Bong Joon-ho’s “Snowpiercer” made waves upon its US release because its distributor decided to give it a limited theatrical release the same day they released it digitally. It was a risky move — theatre owners rely on the window between theatrical release and subsequent releases to remain around six months roughly so as to ensure they get as much money out of the screenings as they can. By shutting this window, “Snowpiercer” could have left theatre owners in the cold and been deemed not worth watching because of the “straight to video” tarnish. But it found an audience in both formats and became a surprise hit. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish our Bong Joon-ho series with his 2013 film “Snowpiercer.” We talk about how the film is a pretty straightforward allegory in a sci-fi post-apocalytic world that audience members need to buy into if the film is going to work, and what happens if people don’t buy into that concept. We chat about the performances, notably Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton, and how well everyone works in the film. We discuss the cinematography, costume design, production design and score and ruminate on how much they all bring to the table. And we touch on the original French source material for this film which, unfortunately, neither of us have read. It’s a wonderful science fiction film that works well for us — even though we know it can be divisive. Check out the movie then tune in!
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Mother • The Next Reel Sep 24, 2015

Bong Joon-ho’s follow-up feature to his massive success “The Host” was about a murder and the person trying to figure out what happened. To some people, it sounded awfully like his second film “Memories of Murder” and they were afraid he was returning to the safety of familiar territory. But 2009’s “Mother” ended up being a very different film and one which is hard to forget. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Bong Joon-ho series with “Mother.” We talk about how much we like this film and why it works so well while also being a bit bonkers. We chat about the actors, notably Kim Hye-ja and Won Bin as the titular mother and her son, reveling in the powerful, honest and surprising performances they both give. We discuss the story and really try to analyze the way Bong plays with the layers of truths and what our take is on what actually happened in the story. And we chat about the cinematography by Hong Kyung-pyo, the production design by Ryu Song-hie and the music by Lee Byung-woo, all great technicians delivering solid work to this great film. It’s a wonderfully directed film that shows the hands of a filmmaker who knows his craft and we have a great time talking about it. Check it out then tune in!
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The Host • The Next Reel Sep 17, 2015

Bong Joon-ho’s third film, “The Host," ended up becoming the highest grossing South Korean film of all time straight out of the gate with it playing on a record number of screens in its home country — it made the South Korean record books with its box office performance during its opening weekend alone. Quentin Tarantino loves it. Harry Knowles loves it. But how do we feel about it? Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we start our Bong Joon-ho series with 2006’s “The Host.” We talk about how we feel about the movie — Andy doesn’t like it very much despite seeing the qualities that make it stand out for people whereas Pete finds it a fun watch and enjoys said qualities. We chat about the actors, notably Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il and Bae Doo-na, touching on how well they work for us as members of this dysfunctional family of idiots. We talk about the monster and debate what works for us and what doesn’t. We discuss the Americans in the film as well as the English sequences, contemplating how well they work (if at all) in context with what Bong is trying to say. We cover the various messages Bong is hitting on with this film as well as touch on the various subplots that arise and how well they work. And we touch on the music and cinematography, noting what works and what doesn’t. It’s an interesting monster movie that certainly seems to have found its fans, even if Andy isn’t one of them. Check out the movie then tune in!
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Sophie's Choice • The Next Reel Sep 10, 2015

When a choice is referred to as a “Sophie’s Choice” most people understand that the choice must be an impossibly difficult one between two unbearable options. But if it wasn’t for Meryl Streep’s performance in the 1982 film directed by Alan J. Pakula (and to a lesser extent William Styron’s novel upon which it was based), that phrase wouldn’t resonate the way it does. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we conclude our Meryl Streep series with the film for which she received her fourth Oscar nomination and first win as Best Actress, “Sophie’s Choice.” We talk about Meryl, our undying admiration for her and what she brings to the screen; plus we chat about her two primary costars — Kevin Kline and Peter MacNichol — and what they bring to the table. We discuss our problems with the film which seem to stem from the adaptation and the focus on Stingo as the main character of the film. We chat about Nestor Almendros and his cinematography work, comparing his naturalistic approach with other films he’s done and how it works here. We touch on the haunting and arresting score by Marvin Hamlisch. And we discuss the horrors of the concentration camps, noting several fascinating scenes that work well to portray the dichotomy between the world of the Jewish prisoners and that of the Nazi guards. It’s a decent film buoyed by two knock-it-out-of-the-park performances that ultimately break your heat, and as hard as it is to watch, it’s great to discuss. So watch the film (but be prepared with tissues) then tune in!
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The French Lieutenant's Woman • The Next Reel Sep 03, 2015

Meryl Streep received her first nomination for Best Actress in a film that one would think had been lost in time if not for the recent Criterion Collection release — Karel Reisz’s 1981 film “The French Lieutenant’s Woman.” She lost to Katherine Hepburn in “On Golden Pond,” which makes sense, but Streep’s performance is still a fascinating one. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Meryl Streep series with Reisz’s film. We talk about how the film worked for us — Pete found it painfully boring and Andy, while appreciating it, ultimately didn’t really connect with it. We discuss the intricacies of the script and how Harold Pinter adapted the ‘unfilmmable’ novel by John Fowles upon which it was based, enjoying the design of the screenplay structure quite a bit. We chat about the strengths in what is going on in the two parallel stories and what keeps us from completely connecting with it. We talk about the actors — notably Streep and Jeremy Irons — and what they bring to the table in these two roles. And we deliberate on the proper way to pronounce ‘lieutenant.’ It’s an interesting film that ultimately didn’t click with either of us, even if we could appreciate some of the work in it. And it brings our total number of films discussed on the regular show to 200! So check out the movie then tune in — we have a great chat about it!
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Kramer vs. Kramer • The Next Reel Aug 27, 2015

Meryl Streep won the first of her three Oscars for her supporting role in Robert Benton’s 1979 film “Kramer vs. Kramer.” Of course, as of this episode, it’s the second nomination for her out of nineteen nominations — more nominations than any other actor. And when you watch “Kramer vs. Kramer,” it’s hard not to wonder why she won for supporting actress rather than actress. Sure, her screen time is much less than Dustin Hoffman, her co-star, but her role has an equal importance in the film (and if we’re using the Hannibal Lecter argument, she clearly should have been nominated for Best Actress). Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Meryl Streep series, looking at some early films for which she received Oscar nominations, and this week talking about Benton’s film. We chat about how this film hit us when we last saw it in college compared to how it hit us this go-around. Hint: much stronger now. We talk about the brilliant and honest performance from all of the actors, notably Streep, Hoffman, Justin Henry, Jane Alexander, Howard Duff and just a hint of JoBeth Williams. We discuss why this story works so well and what interesting topics it hits on. We chat about Benton and his career, and we touch on Néstor Almendros’ beautiful cinematography. And we talk about how the film did at a time when big blockbuster films were all the rage. It’s a film we love that also broke both of us. Watch it — everyone should see it — then tune in to this week’s show.
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Writer Ken Levine on Guilty Pleasures, Volunteers, and TV Legacy • A Special Next Reel Interview • The Next Reel Aug 27, 2015

“I’m happy to be able to defend Volunteers, and maybe you can have me back to defend Mannequin Two."
Screenwriter Ken Levine joins us to discuss his career and to defend "Volunteers."
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The Deer Hunter • The Next Reel Aug 20, 2015

Michael Cimino’s 1978 film “The Deer Hunter” is definitely a divisive film, one about which a LOT of people have found plenty of things to say and argue about. Aside from all of that, it’s also the film for which Meryl Streep received her first Oscar nomination. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin our Meryl Streep series, specifically looking at films for which Streep received an Oscar nomination, with Cimino’s epic Vietnam War film. We talk about why this film was and still is so controversial — the Russian Roulette scenes and the fact that there’s no evidence they happened during the war. We discuss the nature of truth in film and analyze why this film still works effectively despite the Russian roulette scenes being fictional. We chat about the interminable wedding scene and try to figure out why we struggle with it so much. We chat about the brilliant actors, notably Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Savage, Streep, George Dzundza and the wonderful John Cazale. We touch on Cimino and his career, notably how it nearly died after this film with “Heaven’s Gate.” And we debate the nature of Flickchart with some of Andy’s choices. It’s a fun-filled episode for a very strong film, albeit not easy to watch. Tune in!
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Force Majeure • The Next Reel Aug 13, 2015

It’s time for another Listener’s Choice episode, this time with our friends Per Johansson and Gustav Larsed from the Filmpodden podcast in Sweden. They selected something from the home country — Ruben Östlund’s 2014 film “Force Majeure.” Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we take on the icy slopes to discuss this avalanche of emotion. We talk with Per and Gustav about why they picked this film and what it means to them, as well as why they’re so divided on it. We discuss our own thoughts of this film, why we like it so much, and how much tension it created in us in the third act. We chat about the performances, notably Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli and Kristofer Hivju, and what they all bring to the film. We look at the cinematography of the film and how it portrays so brilliantly — and clinically — nature and man’s battle with it. And we try to figure out several strange and pivotal moments within the film. It’s a truly fascinating character piece that seems to divide viewers quite a bit. So check out the film then tune in!
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Under the Cherry Moon • The Next Reel Aug 06, 2015

Prince has always been a flamboyant and eclectic musician, and with the album and film “Purple Rain,” he found a new art form he enjoyed. And one he won an Oscar for — Best Original Song Score. With his next film, he had conflicts with the director so took over and directed it himself. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we wrap up this year’s short guilty pleasure with Pete’s pick — Prince’s 1986 film “Under the Cherry Moon.” We talk about what’s in the film and why, despite its flaws, Pete still gets so much pleasure from this film. And we talk about its flaws and everything that doesn’t work in the film. We chat about the actors — Prince, Jerome Benton, Kristin Scott Thomas, Steven Berkoff, Francesca Annis and more — and look at what each of them brings to the table. We discuss the black-and-white look of the film and ponder the reasoning for it, wondering if perhaps cinematographer Michael Ballhaus may know why Prince opted to show it this way despite having filmed it in color. And we touch on the original director and what the circumstances were under which she left the film. It’s the guiltiest of guilty pleasures and Pete still loves it despite all its flaws. Regardless of what either of us thinks, we have a great conversation about it. Tune in!
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Volunteers • The Next Reel Jul 30, 2015

It’s time for some guilty pleasures! Yes, the two of us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — dig up some films that we love but are generally not considered the greatest of movies. This week, it’s Andy’s turn with his guilty pleasure — Nicholas Meyer’s 1985 Peace Corps comedy “Volunteers.” That’s right, more Tom Hanks action from Andy, proving he’s just about ready to go Annie Wilkes on ol’ Tom. In this week’s episode, we talk about what Andy loves in this movie while also looking at it through serious eyes, analyzing what in the film really is causing it to be generally considered a bad film. In this particular case, most of the burden falls on Hanks in his performance of the pompous rich boy Lawrence Bourne III. We compare that with what works well in the film, most notably John Candy in yet another hilarious turn from the 80s. We also look at the other actors in the film — Rita Wilson, Tim Thomerson, Gedde Watanabe, George Plimpton and more — and talk about what they bring to the table. We touch on comments Ken Levine, one of the writers, wrote on his 2009 blog about the scene that ruined the movie, and Andy takes the writer to task for possibly thinking too highly of his own script. And we chat about a few people behind the camera — Meyer at the helm and James Horner composing a wonderful score. It’s a fun romp, albeit problem laden, that is high on Andy’s list of fun movies to watch but not likely one Pete will be returning to, even if he did find a few things to enjoy in the movie. So check it out then tune in!
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Only Angels Have Wings • The Next Reel Jul 23, 2015

Howard Hawks and Cary Grant had already given the world the hilarious “Bringing Up Baby” in 1938, and lucky for us, they liked working together. They’d work on four more films together, including their very next one — “Only Angels Have Wings.
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The Roaring Twenties • The Next Reel Jul 16, 2015

James Cagney was getting tired of making gangster films for Warner Bros. by the time he starred in Raoul Walsh’s 1939 film “The Roaring Twenties. After all, he really loved comedy and the song-and-dance too. But he clearly was great as a gangster. Look at him in “The Public Enemy” or “White Heat.” He carried a dark energy that really came across in those films as well as this one. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our series on films from 1939 with Walsh’s “The Roaring Twenties.” We talk about our general impressions of this film, one which we both watched for the first time, and how it was enjoyable but fairly middle-of-the-road. We chat about the talent involved on screen — Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Gladys George, Priscilla Lane, Frank McHugh, Jeffrey Lynn, and Paul Kelly, to name a few — and how we felt about each of them. We get into the gangster genre and what really made these gangster films from the 30s work, comparing this one with “Little Caesar” and more to figure out if this one is better or worse than some of those that are considered more classic. And we talk about how well this film and its news reel-esque approach to the decade really give us a great perspective on what was going on then and how it created this environment for criminal behavior. It’s a good film, maybe not something we’d rewatch day in and day out but one worth watching at least once, and we have a great time talking about it on this week’s show. Tune in!
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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington • The Next Reel Jul 09, 2015

It’s rare to find a film from 75 years ago that feels relevant still in today’s world, but Frank Capra’s 1939 “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” is one of those films. Corruption in the Senate? Check. Corporate interests secretly working their own machinations behind the scenes to get their political puppets to do their bidding? Check. Cynical office staff who are only interested in making a buck? Check. Sad to say that the only thing that doesn’t feel modern is that a politician like James Stewart’s titular character could actually exist. Or at least survive in today’s political world. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue with our great films from 1939 series with Capra’s fantastic film “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” We talk about how much we love this film and why, highlighting everything aforementioned. We chat about Stewart and Jean Arthur as the perfect leads for this film, aided by the wonderful supporting cast including Edward Arnold, Harry Carey, Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell and more. We discuss how the Washington, D.C. press and the real Senators received the film compared with the general public. And we discuss the people behind the cameras with Capra and what they bring to the table — Joseph Walker, Lionel Banks, Dimitri Tiomkin, Sidney Buchman, Lewis R. Foster and more. It’s a top notch film that still speaks to its audiences, all while avoiding being cheesy while full of honesty. We love it. Make sure you watch this one and then tune in!
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Ninotchka • The Next Reel Jul 03, 2015

Taking a completely different turn from last week’s Civil War epic, “Ninotchka” is a very light comedy by Ernst Lubitch dealing with Russians in their post-Revolution society.
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Gone With The Wind • The Next Reel Jun 25, 2015

Considering the racially-charged climate of the US right now, it’s oddly perfect timing that we’re starting our 1939 series with “Gone With The Wind,” a film as technically brilliant to look at as it is hard to watch because of it’s portrayal of slavery and the ‘lost cause’ Southern view of the Civil War. It certainly gives us a lot to talk about in this episode! Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we dive into Victor Fleming’s “Gone With The Wind.” We talk at length about the position of the film in cinematic history and how that contrasts with what it’s portraying and how we feel about that, noting that perhaps this film is one that should be considered in the same camp as ‘Song of the South.’ And we look at what problems we have with the story and why it makes us feel uncomfortable, even if the story itself can be enjoyed when taken out of historical context. Focusing more on the film itself, we look at the actors — Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Olivia de Havilland, Leslie Howard, Thomas Mitchell, Hattie McDaniel and more — how they got their parts and how well they work for us. We look at lots of bit players and talk about where they’ve since popped up. We talk about the context of 1939 and how the studio system worked. We talk about the three directors who contributed to this film — George Cukor, Victor Fleming and Sam Wood — as well as the producing kingpin who really is the one responsible for getting this film made the way he wanted: David O. Selznick. We chat about other key crew who helped bring this film to life, including Max Steiner, Yakima Canutt, William Cameron Menzies and Walter Plunkett. And we marvel at how much money this film has taken in over its lifetime and deliberate over whether it should still be able to make money or if it should be locked away now due to its painful portrayal of the period. It’s a long film but a film well worth discussing because of these factors. Tune in!
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Seconds • The Next Reel Jun 18, 2015

James Wong Howe shot color films very well, but it was his black-and-white cinematography that he was really known for. He won two Oscars for his B&W cinematography and played with many techniques that influenced filmmakers and cinematographers long after he was gone. The camera work on John Frankenheimer’s 1966 film “Seconds” is no exception. It fits the tone of the film perfectly, creating a sense of unease and discomfort quite often. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish our B&W cinematography of James Wong Howe with Frankenheimer’s “Seconds.” We talk about the camerawork (paired with the editing) and how it works — or doesn’t work — for us in this thriller. We chat about the talent, notably Rock Hudson, John Randolph, Salome Jens, Will Geer, Murray Hamilton and Jeff Corey, and what they bring to the table. We discuss what works and what doesn’t work for us in this unique sci-fi story. And we touch on Jerry Goldsmith’s music and how much we love — or hate — it in this film. It’s a bit of a divisive conversation this week, but a very fun one. Tune in!
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Sweet Smell of Success • The Next Reel Jun 11, 2015

James Wong Howe had just won his Oscar for his black-and-white cinematography for “The Rose Tattoo” when the star of the film, Burt Lancaster, hired him to shoot his next picture, “Sweet Smell of Success.” Howe and director Alexander Mackendrick knew right away that to tell this story properly, they really needed to film on the streets of New York City at night. So they did, and in the process created a stunningly gorgeous and dark film noir that feels like it truly lives in the city, not on some Hollywood soundstage. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Black-and-White Cinematography of James Wong Howe series with Mackendrick’s wonderful 1956 film, “Sweet Smell of Success.” We talk about the chiaroscuro look that Howe captured in this film, and also look at the deep focus and camera movement and how it all helps tell the story. We chat about Ernest Lehman and Clifford Odets, the writers, looking at what they each contributed to the wickedly brilliant dialogue. We discuss the cast — notably Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison, Marty Milner, Barbara Nichols and Emile Meyer — and what they bring to the table. We touch on Walter Winchell, the figure on whom Lancaster’s character was based. And we talk about how the film was received at the time — poorly — as well as how opinion of it changed over time. It’s a film that feels biting and dangerous, and it’s one we enjoy quite a bit. Tune in!
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Kings Row • The Next Reel Jun 04, 2015

“Kings Row” was adapted from a much racier novel from 1940 and had to be sanitized quite a bit because of the Hays Code. They had to leave some pretty big elements out — homosexuality, mercy killings, incest, nymphomania — but even with that, the film still is very dark because of the issues it does deal with. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Black and White Cinematography of James Wong Howe series with Sam Wood’s 1942 film “Kings Row.” We talk about the adaptation and what had to change in order for the producers to be given the green light, but what those changes meant for the film and how the added subtext really aids the film through today’s eyes. We chat about the cast — Robert Cummings, Ann Sheridan, Claude Rains and Ronald Reagan in particular — and what each of them bring to the table (notably Reagan in what many call his best performance). We talk about Howe’s great cinematography and what he adds to this dark story with a midwestern gothic style of shooting, giving this seemingly idyllic town at the turn of the last century a touch of noir. And we talk about Wood and his body of work, noting what we’d seen of his without realizing they were his films. It’s a film that really took us both by surprise but one that worked well for us, particularly as a film from the 40s. Tune in!
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The Thin Man • The Next Reel May 28, 2015

James Wong Howe is often cited as one of the most influential cinematographers there have been. He worked in film from the early days of the silents to the mid-70s when he received his last Oscar nomination for his color work on “Funny Lady.” But his black-and-white cinematography is what he’s primarily known for. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we start up our Black and White Cinematography of James Wong Howe series with W.S. Van Dyke’s 1934 film “The Thin Man.” We talk about the joy of watching this film, and how it really doesn’t come from the mystery so much as the fantastic relationship between Nick and Norah Charles, probably the most famous sleuthing pair to ever grace the silver screen. We talk about Howe and what he brought to the table in this studio production. We chat about William Powell and Myrna Loy and how their chemistry on and off the screen is some of the best, which must be why they starred in 14 films together. We chat about the rest of the cast as well as Van Dyke and his directing style. And we discuss why a film like this works even if its story isn’t that interesting. It’s a fun film to start our new series and we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
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Mad Max Fury Road • The Next Reel May 21, 2015

In case you haven’t heard, everybody seems to be talking about “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Whether they’re talking about the silly fan theories about who Tom Hardy really is playing in this film, or the ‘meninist’ groups telling people to avoid it because of its feminist agenda, or everyone else talking about the amazing action film that George Miller gave us, it certainly seems to be on people’s minds. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish up our Mad Max series with Miller’s latest entry, and our favorite, “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Andy gets to brag about seeing it in D-Box, while both discuss how the 3D worked overall. We talk about the world building that Miller does in this film and why it works so well. We chat about Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa and Tom Hardy as Max, discussing what works — and may not work — in their roles. We discuss some of the people behind the scenes and what they bring to the table — John Seale the DP, production designer Colin Gibson, Guy Norris the action unit director and supervising stunt coordinator and Margaret Sixel, the editor. And we stew on how this fits into the storyline with the first three films. It’s a fantastic action film, likely one that will be oft repeated, and we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
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Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome • The Next Reel May 15, 2015

While the first two Mad Max films had so much going for them, it sure seemed like a stumble with the third of the trilogy. But that’s looking at it through today’s eyes because some critics like Roger Ebert sure loved it — he put it on his ’10 Best’ list of 1985! Okay, so George Miller had lost his producing partner, Byron Kennedy, and let George Ogilvie co-direct it with him. Maybe that’s why “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” seems to be a bit of a stumble. Maybe it was the American financing that made it feel less gritty and more… Hollywood. Whatever it was, it’s definitely the lesser of the three films. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we go beyond Thunderdome with Mel Gibson and Tina Turner, continuing our Mad Max series with Miller’s 1985 film. We talk about all of the problems it has, and how Andy still finds it a guilty pleasure while Pete downright hates it. We talk about the great concepts Miller and co-writer Terry Hayes had in putting this story together, but how poorly executed they were — every one of them. We chat about the joy of working with 400 pigs on set and what they had to do to make that work. We discuss the car chase — way too late in the movie for our tastes — and how it works in comparison with those we’ve seen come before. And we deliberate on where we think “Fury Road” will fit chronologically with these first three films. It’s a very problematic film on which we find ourselves split, but it’s a very fun film to talk about. Tune in!
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Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior • The Next Reel May 07, 2015

With the international popularity of “Mad Max,” George Miller was excited to get back into the driver’s seat and continue with his hero as he wandered the dystopian wastes of Australia looking for fuel. It was a smart move as “Mad Max 2,” or “The Road Warrior” as it was released in the States, not only did well at the box office but helped build the cult following of this franchise. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Mad Max series with 1981’s “Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior.” We talk about the fundamental differences in the types of story between the first and second film, and how Pete gravitates toward the familial connections in the former while Andy gravitates toward the redemption in the latter. We chat about the great cast — Bruce Spence, Michael Preston, Max Phipps, Vernon Wells, Kjell Nilsson, Virginia Hey and of course Mel Gibson — and how they fit in mess of a future. We talk stunts and car chases — of course — and how Miller really stepped it up for this film, culminating in a 13-minute tanker chase at the end. And we look at the costume design and how it’s evolved from the first film to this. We love the film, despite our differences about which is better, and have a great talk about it this week. Tune in!
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Mad Max • The Next Reel Apr 30, 2015

George Miller’s film “Mad Max” came out in 1979 in Australia and became a huge success, going on to become the most profitable film ever until it was unseated from its throne by one Blair Witch. It went on to spur two sequels and, soon, a fourth. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we gear up for one of our most anticipated movies this summer by kicking off our Mad Max series with the start of it all — “Mad Max.“ Join us as we talk about why we love this film so much and how much Miller gets out of this dystopian world he’s created, despite his limited funds. We discuss the nature of this world and where it falls as far as post-acopalytic versus a near future that’s just messed up. We chat about Mel Gibson in one of his first starring roles and what he brings to the table, along with the other actors (including Hugh Keays-Byrne as Toecutter, who will be turning up on ”Fury Road" as well). We go into the amazing stunt work at length, really digging into some of the wild things they did while marveling that so few people got seriously hurt. And we look at the cinematography, art direction, costume design and composing and how each element really worked perfectly to bring this world to life. It’s a fantastic film and we’re both big fans. Tune in!
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Touch of Evil • The Next Reel Apr 23, 2015

Orson Welles never was one who could direct in the Hollywood studio system without a hitch, and his last studio picture he directed, 1958’s “Touch of Evil,” stands testament to that fact. While the shoot itself went well, the film ran into its issues in post, leaving a truncated version that Welles wasn’t a part of (nor happy with) released on the bottom of a double bill. Luckily, through the plucky determination of producer Rick Schmidlin and editor Walter Murch, an extended version of the film, largely re-edited to Welles’ own notes to the studio, was cut together and released in ’98. The two iterations are night and day, and the film now stands as not only one of the great films noirs but also as one of Welles’ finest cinematic achievements. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish our film noir series with this magnificent, and dark, film. We talk about the problems Welles had with the post on this film and what some of the changes he wanted were, along with how they worked in the extended edition. We ruminate on the idea of Charlton Heston playing a Mexican, but pass that off as an unfortunate sign of the time and a decision needed in order to get the picture off the ground. We also talk about Janet Leigh, Joseph Calleia, Akim Tamiroff, Dennis Weaver, Marlene Dietrich, Joseph Cotten and more. And we spend a while discussing the brilliant camerawork Welles put together with his DP, Russell Metty, along with Welles’ sense of storytelling with a camera and how he was able to create amazing dances between the camera and the actors. It’s a brilliant film — one of our favorites — so go check it out then tune in!
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Ace in the Hole • The Next Reel Apr 16, 2015

From “Double Indemnity” in 1944 through “The Apartment” in 1960 (maybe even “One, Two, Three” in ’61), Billy Wilder really hit his stride. His films were all over the map genre-wise, yet he showed how great a director he was because they’re all incredibly memorable. With his successes, however, he certainly didn’t shy away from making dark pictures from time to time, and “Ace in the Hole” is arguably his darkest. Released in 1951, it came out a time when neither the public nor the critics were ready for something like it and it flopped. Hard. But with time, it’s found a new audience and has been canonized as one of his greatest achievements. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Film Noir series with “Ace in the Hole.” We dig deep into our personal opinions about how well the film works — Andy loves is while Pete had problems with it. We delve into what the story is trying to say and debate about how well it’s actually doing what it sets out to do. We chat about the cast — Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur, Porter Hall and more — and look at what they bring to the table. We talk about Wilder and his directing here, along with Charles Lang’s cinematography and Hugo Friedhofer’s brilliant score. And we debate over the placement of the film on our Flickchart, wondering if the rock/paper/scissors battles will ever work better in Pete’s favor. It’s a great week talking about a divisive film. Tune in!
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Out of the Past • The Next Reel Apr 09, 2015

The two films most often cited as the ultimate representations of film noir are Billy Wilder’s 1944 film “Double Indemnity” and Jacques Tourneur’s 1947 film “Out of the Past.” Tourneur’s film gives us Robert Mitchum at his laconic best, Jane Greer at her sexiest and Kirk Douglas in one of his earliest roles but already defined by his machismo. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Film Noir seåries with “Out of the Past.” We talk about what we love about it and how well it represents film noir, as well as the convoluted plot which certainly seems to get more complicated as it progresses. We look at that plot and question how much it affects the viewing of the film or if the noirish nature of the story allows for one to look past the plot and just focus on the mood. We chat about the talent, like Mitchum, Greer and Douglas as well as others, and what they bring to the table with each of their well-written characters. We discuss the crew, including Tourneur, and how their work helps shape this film. And we pine for the 1987 SNL skit with Mitchum and Greer in which they did a spoof of this classic called ‘Out of Gas.’ It’s a brilliant film noir and just a brilliant film — one of our favorites. We have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
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Scarlet Street • The Next Reel Apr 02, 2015

Fritz Lang may have often had conflicts with his producers, but when he turned out a great film, he made so great that it’s easy to look past his argumentative nature and just focus on the end product. Well, perhaps more so now than at the time. Sure, he had his stinkers, but looking at a magnificent film like “Scarlet Street,” it’s easy to forgive any battles he started and just relish the brilliance of the story. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Film Noir series with Lang’s 1945 masterpiece, “Scarlet Street.” We delve into the murky depths of the theme of the story — is it one more of guilt or one more of jealousy? We wallow in the emasculated character of Christopher Cross, played by Edward G. Robinson, and his nemeses Kitty and Johnny, played by Joan Bennett and Dan Duryea. We dig in the shadows of Fritz Lang’s history and the cinematic tools he uses to tell his story here along with his cinematographer, his editor, and his composer. And we lose ourselves in the haunting paintings of John Decker, wondering if he really lacks perspective just like Cross does. It’s a fabulous film and a very strong representation of film noir. Definitely check this one out — there’s a gorgeous print of it out there which makes the film look brand new — then tune in to the show!
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Detour • The Next Reel Mar 26, 2015

There are good films noir and there are bad films noir. But rarely do you have a case like 1945’s “Detour,” directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, where the poor quality that would make it a bad film could actually be construed as elements that make it a good film. In fact, this is arguably the only case where that happened. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Film Noir series with Ulmer’s “Detour.” We talk about the origins of the film on poverty row and what that meant at the time, as well as talk about some of the films that Ulmer made under this umbrella. We really dig into the quality — or lack thereof — of this film and debate if it really helps lend to the noir aesthetic or if it just makes it reek of a cheap film. We deliberate over the quality of the performances provided by Tom Neal and Ann Savage and decide we love her but are split on Neal. And we look at it in context of the world of noir, touching on the femme fatale, the poor sap of a hero, the black and white cinematography, the tone, etc. It’s a film that, if viewed without any look into the history or without a conversation about it, likely could be seen as just a bad film, but when really digging into it, there’s something more to it and it certainly is worth talking about. So check it out and tune in!
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Double Indemnity • The Next Reel Mar 19, 2015

Nobody knew they were making films noir when the genre started in the 40s — it wasn’t until much later when the French dubbed this new run of American films that had a darker bent with snappy dialogue, lots of shadows and femme fatales film noir. Billy Wilder was setting out to make a crime thriller; he didn’t realize at the time that his film “Double Indemnity” would be considered the first real film noir. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin our Film Noir series with Wilder’s brilliant film from 1944. We talk about the genre and what it means to be called a ‘film noir,’ particularly in relationship to the Hays Code. We chat about the brilliant trio of actors who bring this film to life — Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson. We look at the brilliant directing by Wilder and his co-writing with none other than Raymond Chandler. We investigate the dark and shadowy lighting by cinematographer John F. Seitz as well as the moody, driving score by Miklos Rozsa. And we touch on the real life crime that inspired James M. Cain to write the novella upon which this was based. It’s one of our favorite films and certainly the perfect way to kick off this series. Tune in!
* * *
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La Vie en Rose • The Next Reel Mar 12, 2015

Biopics come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Olivier Dahan’s film “La Vie en Rose” detailing the life of Edith Piaf, one of France’s greatest singers and international stars, is a whirlwind of a film. Unlike biopics that tell the story linearly, this one wraps its audience in and proceeds to take them on a wild ride all through Piaf’s sadly short life, not so much focused on chronology as much as an emotional journey. It’s a brazen way to tell the story but one that mostly works. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we conclude our 4-part Guess the Connection series with Dahan’s 2007 Oscar-winning film “La Vie en Rose.” We talk about Marion Cotillard’s performance, which drives this film and is, in our minds, the reason to watch it. We touch on the other performers, notably Gerard Depardieu and Emmanuelle Seigner, but how all of them are truly dwarfed by Cotillard’s performance. We discuss the nature of biopics and how this story structure works in the world of this subgenre, then debate which type of biopic we find more successful. We chat about the cinematography by Tetsuo Nagata and how great it looks, along with several specific scenes that unfold in very creative ways. And we talk about Piaf’s songs and Christopher Gunning’s score, looking at the balance between the two and how the film doesn’t feel the need to overwhelm us with every Piaf song out there. It’s a strong story because of Piaf’s life and Cotillard’s performance and we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
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L.A. Confidential • The Next Reel Mar 05, 2015

1997 was a big year for movies, and perhaps that’s because one of the biggest box office sensations — James Cameron’s “Titanic” — was released that year. And while it went on to make a gajillion dollars (okay, just $2.2 billion worldwide), many argue that it’s not actually the best movie of the year, but instead give that title to Curtis Hanson’s crime thriller “L.A. Confidential.” Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Guess the Connection series with this fantastic film. We talk about the nature of the story as a crime thriller and as, possibly, a neo-noir, and look into what the genre implications mean for what the film should have been working to achieve in its look. We discuss the look, as well as the editing, the score, the production design, and of course the writing and directing, and what all the individuals bring to the table. We dig into the actors — primarily Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, James Cromwell and Kim Basinger — and chat about their individual performances. And we go back to the original source material by James Ellroy and compare it with Brian Helgeland’s wonderful script, looking at how he (and Hanson) honed it down to focus it and make the screenplay and movie their own take on the take, equal in power to the novel. It’s a wonderful film that stands high in our estimation. Tune in!
* * *
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Million Dollar Baby • The Next Reel Feb 26, 2015

Next up in our Guess the Connection series: Clint Eastwood’s 2004 boxing drama “Million Dollar Baby."
For those of you who have yet to see “Million Dollar Baby,” you probably should just stop reading this and go watch the movie. Even though the movie is nearly 11 years old now, it’s still hard to talk about without going into detail about the change in story direction in the third act. That was a divisive problem at the time of the movie’s release, and while it shouldn’t be a problem now, it feels like it is. But we jump into all kinds of spoilers in our show this week. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our mysterious Guess the Connection series with Eastwood’s 2004 film “Million Dollar Baby.” First off, it’s not a boxing movie like “Rocky” is a boxing movie, and we talk at length about that, really looking at the direction this screenplay takes you. This is a boxing drama — a story about characters who happen to inhabit the world of boxing. We chat about the ninja-level script by Paul Haggis based on F.X. Toole’s book and how it works outside of the confines of the standard structure expected in Hollywood screenplays. We discuss the brilliant performances all the way through from Eastwood to Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, as well as the supporting players like Jay Baruchel, Anthony Mackie and Margo Martingale. It’s a powerful film that hits its mark every time, so watch the movie then tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Syriana • The Next Reel Feb 19, 2015

It’s game time, folks! This current series consists of four films that for all intents and purposes are not related, except for one connection they all have. And that’s the game — guess the connection. We won’t be announcing the films ahead of time — you’ll have to wait until they’re released to see what the films are. And when the podcast about the fourth film in our series is released on Friday, March 13th, the first person to post the correct connection on Facebook or Twitter will win a Next Reel T-shirt! Think you’ve got what it takes? Then tune in for clues and play along! First up, “Syriana."
After Stephen Gaghan wrote “Traffic” for Steven Soderbergh, Soderbergh introduced him to Robert Baer’s book “See No Evil,” and Gaghan knew the next complex multi-story film he wanted to write. After years of researching around the world, he brought “Syriana” to the world and, while well received, both critics and audiences alike found it very complicated and confusing. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin our Mystery series with Gaghan’s 2005 film “Syriana.” We talk about why Andy likes it so much — loves it in fact — and what he gets out of it, as well as why Pete finds it to be 20 minutes of a brilliant ending preceded by tedium. We chat about the countless famous faces gracing the screen in this film and how they each do, particularly Matt Damon, George Clooney, Jeffrey Wright and Alexander Siddig. We discuss the roles each of them play and how their stories connect, as well as the fascinating element of fathers and sons in the story. We discuss the politics within the film as well as the terrorism and the corporate greed. And we cover some of the technical elements, like the editing, the camera work and the score. It’s a film that even we find divisive but one that is definitely saying something. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Delicatessen • The Next Reel Feb 12, 2015

We love doing our Listener’s Choice episodes — it’s a great way for our listeners to get us to finally talk about movies about which conversations are long overdue. Cameron Ryan, our 2014 Pony Prize winner, got to pick the movie this time, and ended up picking the fantastic black comedy “Delicatessen,” a movie that we both love but for whatever reason just hadn’t gotten around to discussing yet. So now finally, join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we enjoy another Listener’s Choice episode with one of our faves, the Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Marc Caro 1991 film “Delicatessen.” We talk with Cameron about why she chose this film and what it means to her, as well as the joy of winning the Pony Prize. We discuss the look of the movie — Jeunet and Caro each come from graphical backgrounds and, when paired with Darius Khondji’s beautiful cinematography, as well as the amazing production and costume design, created an unforgettable post-apocalyptic world. We chat about the indelible performances, starting with Dominique Pinon, a perfect choice for someone who was a former circus performer. And we talk about the nature of the story, a very upside down world with hell on earth and underground saviors. It’s a marvelous film that deserves to be talked about, so tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Murder By Death • The Next Reel Feb 05, 2015

Neil Simon saw Alec Guinness reading the script for “Star Wars” on the set of “Murder By Death,” and very soon after that, Guinness would be known as Obi Wan Kenobi to the world. But there is so much more to Guinness before that series of films, and in this particular series, so much humor. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we close out our Sir Alec Guinness series with Robert Moore’s 1976 film “Murder By Death.” We talk about Neil Simon’s comedy writing here, how it worked for us now, and, for Pete, how it’s changed since he first saw it when he was young — the story definitely has aged. We chat about Guinness’s performance as Jamesir Bensonmum, the blind butler, and how much we love what he brings to the table here. We discuss the other actors — the detectives played by Peter Falk, Peter Sellers, James Coco, David Niven, Elsa Lanchester; their seconds including Maggie Smith, Eileen Brennan and a very young James Cromwell; and in a surprising turn, Truman Capote as the mysterious host. We touch on Dave Grusin and what he brings to the table as the composer. And we can’t help but compare the movie to “Clue,” the one that we both hold in our hearts as a guilty pleasure. It’s a light and inconsequential film to talk about, despite its story problems. It’s worth a watch. Then tune in once you have!
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The Ladykillers • The Next Reel Jan 30, 2015

Alec Guinness's Professor Marcus really meets his match with Katie Johnson's Mrs. Wilberforce in Alexander Mackendrick's 1955 Ealing Studios comedy "The Ladykillers," what some call the last great comedy from the studio. Where he plots and schemes to rob a bank truck, she makes tea and makes sure her guests act like gentlemen -- even when those men are thieves. It's a great premise for this film, and one that makes at least half of us on the show laugh. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- as we continue our Sir Alec Guinness series with "The Ladykillers." We talk about why it worked so well for Andy and why it didn't for Pete, looking at everything from the characters to the situations to the overall story. We chat about the performances from the actors playing the five criminals -- Guinness, Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Cecil Parker and Danny Green -- as well as the very well mannered Mrs. Wilberforce played by the brilliant Johnson. We discuss the look of the film and the cinematography by Otto Heller, the great score by Tristram Cary and the Oscar-nominated writing by William Rose. We touch on the Coen remake and Tom Hanks playing the Guinness role. And we chat about how great Guinness really is in this film and how we're thrilled to be doing a series on him right now. So check it out -- let us know what you think about the movie. Love it? Hate it? We want to know!
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The Man in the White Suit • The Next Reel Jan 22, 2015

Ealing Studios comedies, particularly the ones we’ve been talking about, have all had a bit of an anti-establishment feel to them but “The Man in the White Suit” feels like they were trying to something a bit more with it. The film is fascinating satirical comedy looking at the relationship between the factory owners and the union laborers in England back in the 50s that doesn’t just focus on their differences but also finds a way to bring the two groups together. The reason for their coming together is, of course, the titular character, played wonderfully by Sir Alec Guinness. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about this great Alexander Mackendrick film from 1951 as the next in our Guinness series. We talk about why we find this film so fascinating, and how this film is really the foundation for our podcast. We chat about Guinness and the way he plays his character, as well as many of the other wonderful actors who do so well here, namely Joan Greenwood, Cecil Parker and Michael Gough. We discuss the wonderful cinematography by Douglas Slocombe, working with more shadows than we’ve seen before, as well as Mackendrick and what he brings to the table. And we chat about some of the effects, from the luminescent suit to the stunt of Guinness scaling the side of the house to escape. It’s a brilliant film, one which we both love, and one which more people should really see. So check it out then tune in!
* * *
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The Lavender Hill Mob • The Next Reel Jan 15, 2015

Sir Alec Guinness had already proven both his comedic and dramatic prowess by the time he came to Ealing Studios’ “The Lavender Hill Mob” in 1951, a point in his career when he was making two films a year. He’d continue working in both comedy and drama throughout his career, but we’re lucky to still be talking about his comedies because “The Lavender Hill Mob” is an absolute delight. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Sir Alec Guinness series with a conversation about his seventh film, directed by Charles Crichton. We talk about the comedy in this film and why it still works so well six and a half decades later. We chat about Crichton and his wonderful directing, and compare this film with his last film, 1988’s “A Fish Called Wanda,” which he directed and co-wrote. We discuss Guinness and the other actors making up the titular mob — Stanley Holloway, Sidney James and Alfie Bass — and look at what they each brought to the table. We chat about our favorite moments of the film and why, even with its problems, it’s still an utterly enjoyable caper film. And we point out several familiar faces that you may miss scattered throughout the film — see if you can catch them! It’s an absolute delight of a crime caper film, one which we have a great time talking about. Tune in!
* * *
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Kind Hearts and Coronets • The Next Reel Jan 08, 2015

Sir Alec Guinness may always be remembered as Obi Wan Kenobi, but his career goes far beyond those three little science fiction films he did late in his career. He worked many times with David Lean. He gave life to the spy George Smiley long before Gary Oldman. And he starred in a number of the great Ealing comedies, his first of which is “Kind Hearts and Coronets,” where he pulls a Peter Sellers by playing 8 of the characters in the film. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin our Sir Alec Guinness series by talking about Robert Hamer’s 1949 comedy “Kind Hearts and Coronets.” We talk about the comedy in this film, and how clever it is to write a script in which the audience roots for the protagonist even though he’s planning on committing a number of murders. We discuss the brilliant performances, from Dennis Price and Valerie Hobson to Joan Greenwood and, of course, Guinness. Not to mention a memorable turn from Miles Malleson. We chat about the cinematography by Douglas Slocombe, who we last discussed way back at the beginning of our run with the Indiana Jones series. And we talk about a recent script on the 2014 Black List, “Rothchild,” written by John Patton Ford, that takes this story and updates it. We even bring Ford on to discuss it with us. It’s a great way to kick off our Guinness series and we have a great conversation about this brilliantly funny film. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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The Poseidon Adventure • The Next Reel Jan 01, 2015

The end of 2014, the beginning of 2015. Happy New Year, everybody! And what a better way to celebrate than with Ronald Neame’s 1972 disaster classic “The Poseidon Adventure.” Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we enjoy the holiday with a wonderful conversation about this infamous ship. We talk about the nature of disaster movies from the 70s and producer Irwin Allen — the Master of Disaster — and how this genre turned into quite a thing for him. We discuss the ideas within the film, notably the religious elements, and look at what the film might be trying to say about those elements. We walk through each of the cast members — Gene Hackman, Shelley Winters, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Roddy McDowall, Jack Albertson, and more — and chat about what they each bring to the table. We discuss the amazing production design and the process they went through for flipping the set. We touch on director Neame and look at his history and what he initially thought when brought on to direct this film. And we examine the numbers for this film, looking at how well it did and why it set up the disaster genre for big successes in the 70s. It’s a fun film to end one year and begin the next, and we have a great conversation about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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The Bishop's Wife • The Next Reel Dec 26, 2014

Happy holidays! It’s time for another Christmas movie pick to celebrate, and we’re jumping back to 1947 to talk about Henry Koster’s “The Bishop’s Wife.” Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we dive into this perennial classic starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven. We talk about how the film works for us and compare that with what we were expecting, considering neither of us had seen this film before. We chat about the brilliant Niven, the casual and awesome Grant, and the loving Young playing the titular character. We spend some time deliberating on the title itself, and express some confusion about why it’s called what it’s called and how that affected our opinions and expectations of this character. We chat about the release strategy of the movie and how they increased profits by changing its title. And we look at in context of it being a Christmas movie and where it stands for us. It’s a delightful holiday film that has some great light comedy paired with a more serious tone, and we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Andy's Kidney • A Very Special Episode • The Next Reel Dec 21, 2014

Andy had a kidney removed earlier this week to donate to a friend. Pete took a few minutes to call and check in on his recovery, and see which movies he's been watching all week.
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Requiem for a Dream • The Next Reel Dec 19, 2014

Phew. This film should be required viewing for all high school seniors. It’s brutal and intense, but also honest and powerful in its depiction of addiction. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish up our series on the immensely gifted actress Ellen Burstyn with Darren Aronofsky’s 2000 film “Requiem for a Dream.” We discuss why this film is so powerful, and what creating a film that goes to the places this one goes to meant in the filmmakers’ battle with the MPAA over the rating. We talk about the performances — Burstyn’s heartbreaking portrayal of a mother addicted to weight loss pills, along with Jared Leto's, Marlon Wayans' and Jennifer Connelly’s portrayals of people spiraling down in their heroin addiction. We chat about Aronofsky and what he’s doing as a filmmaker in his second film that shows him to be a true storyteller of this amazing visual medium. We touch on other key elements of the production that make this movie what it is, most notably Clint Mansell and the Kronos Quartet bringing to life one of the most haunting and gripping scores we’ve heard. And we look at why this film didn’t do as well here in the States as it should have, including why it didn’t get the award love it should have. It’s an incredibly difficult film to watch but is one made by a master of the craft. We have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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The Exorcist • The Next Reel Dec 11, 2014

It’s pretty rare for a film to come along that has such a visceral effect on people when they’re watching it where they faint or throw up because it’s so overwhelming. When “The Exorcist” was released just after Christmas in 1973, it had that effect. People flocked to it in droves and seemed to have these heightened reactions to it, whether because they were so scared or they felt it was truly evil. It’s a fascinating case study in how religion and horror draws people to the theatre. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Ellen Burstyn series with William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist.” We talk about what makes this film so good and so horrific — something having to do with the sense of naturalism that William Peter Blatty, the screenwriter and author of the original novel, wanted in it and that Friedkin brought to it. We talk about the performances — Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max Von Sydow, Jason Miller, Lee J. Cobb and the demonic vocal stylings of Mercedes McCambridge — and look at what they each bring to the table in this story about a mother trying to protect her little girl from things she doesn’t understand. We chat about Friedkin and his insane directing style that seems to put actors in harm’s way in his quest for the perfect film, a frightening look at the ends justifying the means. We discuss the perfect cinematography brought to the story by Owen Roizman, lending touches to create both bright and dark shots that work in tandem. We look at the amazing makeup effects by Dick Smith, working well in both areas of makeup — creature effects and age makeup. We also touch on the amazing sound design and music — Tubular Bells anyone? And we chat about how well this film did, despite outlandish claims that the film was evil. It’s truly a terrifying film that deserves the praise it gets. It’s one of our favorites and we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore • The Next Reel Dec 04, 2014

Ellen Burstyn won her Oscar for Best Actress for her powerful turn as Alice Hyatt in Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” and it was clearly well-deserved. Always an actress in pursuit of roles as strong female characters, Burstyn took this film on after her huge success with “The Exorcist.” Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we start our Ellen Burstyn series with “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.” We talk about the film as a whole, looking at the journey this widow takes with her son told in a very realistic, gritty, yet comedic way. We discuss Burstyn in the role as Alice, along with other actors in the film including Kris Kristofferson, Diane Ladd, Vic Tayback, Valerie Curtin, Alfred Lutter and Harvey Keitel, and look at what they each bring to the table. We chat about Scorsese, making his fourth film here, and look at how this film fits in his body of work. And we talk about the brilliant moments scattered throughout the film — as well as a few key moments that feel like there could’ve been a bit more to the script. It’s a great film that, while we don’t love it, certainly has a lot to appreciate, and we have a great time talking about it this week. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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O Brother, Where Art Thou? • The Next Reel Nov 27, 2014

Joel and Ethan Coen must have a funny sense of humor, because the idea of making an “adaptation” of Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ without having read it just seems like a bad idea when I picture anyone else doing it, but with them it seems like that’s part of the joke. They put enough of the story into this film to warrant it being credited as an adaption but certainly create a world of their own within the context of the film — 1930s Mississippi. And the Coens are masters of creating worlds within their films. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish our Coen series with this fantastic 2000 film. We talk about the story and how it ties into Homer’s original poem, as well as what the Coens have in the story from the era that makes it their own. We discuss the wonderful actors and their performances, from George Clooney and Tim Blake Nelson, to John Turturro and John Goodman, along with all the wonderful supporting performances in between. We delve into the magical world of digital color intermediates and how this film was the first full feature to use this process, as well as analyze the process a bit. And we wrap up our Coen series with a bit of a chat about them and their films, touching on people they’ve worked with, our thoughts on them as filmmakers and storytellers, and looking at how their films stack up against the others. It’s a great film that we both love and have a great time talking about. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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The Big Lebowski • The Next Reel Nov 21, 2014

It seems appropriate to the character of the Dude that “The Big Lebowski” took its time finding its audience. Coming fresh on the heels of their first Oscar-winning hit, “Fargo,” the Coen Brothers’ 7th film had a strange sense of humor, felt disjointed, was full of swearing, and didn’t connect with audiences or critics, who were all largely left scratching their heads. But time was on the side of the movie as people continued to discover it, turning it into a much-loved cult classic — with its own annual festival even. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Coen Comedy series with 1998’s “The Big Lebowski.” Pete contemplates why it still doesn’t work for him completely, and Andy talks about why it works for him and tries to convince Pete of its brilliance. We discuss the characters depicted in this story and highlight what each of the performers brings to the role, most notably Jeff Bridges. We talk about some of the production team — Roger Deakins and Carter Burwell in particular — and discuss what they bring to the table. And we chat about how the movie has taken on a life of its own, leading to the annual Lebowski Fest, the religion of Dudeism and countless research papers and websites analyzing the intricacies of this film. We’re a bit split on the film but in a way, that really ties the conversation together. Check it out!
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Raising Arizona • The Next Reel Nov 13, 2014

It’s time for some laughs! Kicking off our series of Coen brother comedies, we jump in with the second film of theirs, “Raising Arizona.” Coming after “Blood Simple,” they certainly went 180 degrees with this wild comedy. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about this hilarious 1987 film. We talk about why the film works for us and what we like about it — and why it’s so stinkin’ funny! We discuss the performances — Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, William Forsythe, Trey Wilson, Frances McDormand and more — and look at what they bring to the table and why they all work so well in this film. We chat about the Coens and where this fits into their balancing act of serious and funny films. We talk about Barry Sonnenfeld and his amazing camera work, looking at what it does to benefit this film. We relish the yodeling stylings from Carter Burwell and the amazing voice of John R. Crowder, and delight in the perfect setting created by the production design team. And we touch on the real Arizona where the movie was filmed and how this movie fits in the state in which Andy lives. It’s one of our favorites and we love talking about it. Tune in!
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Defending Your Life • The Next Reel Nov 06, 2014

It’s time for another Listener’s Choice episode! For this round, listener Jeremy Wickett was chosen and gave us Albert Brooks’ 1991 film “Defending Your Life” to discuss. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about Brooks’ movie. We talk with Wickett about why he likes the movie and what made him pick this film as the one he wanted to hear us cover on the show. We discuss our own opinions about the film, look at some of the problems it has, and, even though neither of us ended up loving it like Wickett does, look at what works. We chat about Brooks, the actor, and what he brings to the role, as well as a bit about his background in comedy and, more specifically, with SNL. And we look at the rest of the cast, including the brilliant Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, Buck Henry, Lee Grant and even Shirley MacLaine. It’s an interesting concept of a film that never completely worked for us, but one we have a great time discussing. Tune in!
* * *
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Apt Pupil • The Next Reel Oct 30, 2014

Bryan Singer’s film “Apt Pupil” was actually the second time the film was under production; the first attempt had several casting issues and when it finally started shooting, ended up running out of funds, killing the project. Perhaps that was a sign that Stephen King’s novella was a bit too tricky to make correctly. It’s a very dark story that doesn’t really have any likable characters in it. Singer’s 1998 adaptation toned much of the violence from the book down, but also took a different angle with the ending that many people, including us, felt didn’t work. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish our epic Stephen King adaptation series with Singer’s “Apt Pupil.” We talk about what worked well in the book, what works in the film, and where the film may have gone wrong. We discuss the wonderful performances by Ian McKellan and the late Brad Renfro and look at what they bring to the film, despite its problems. We chat about Singer and some of his regulars, notably John Ottman, his composer/editor. And we circle back to the Nazi elements within the film and what Singer may have been after with this story, as well as other films in his career. It’s an interesting but flawed film that we have a great conversation about. Check it out!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Misery • The Next Reel Oct 23, 2014

Rob Reiner could very easily get back to making films like he did in his heyday if he made another Stephen King adaptation. Seriously, “Stand By Me” and “Misery” are two of the best King adaptations we’ve seen on the silver screen. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we discuss the penultimate film in our King series, Reiner’s 1990 film “Misery.” We talk about the brilliant performance by Kathy Bates, someone who really deserved her Oscar, and what she brought to the role of Annie Wilkes. We also talk about the fantastic James Caan, playing against type with this subdued author character who is pretty much bedridden the duration of the film, as well as Richard Farnsworth and Frances Sternhagen, a brilliant pairing. We chat about the nature of fandom and what it means to a creator of works when they essentially turn their product over to the consumer. We discuss the fantastic cinematography by the great Barry Sonnenfeld, his last work as DP. We touch on the music by Marc Shaiman as well as the Liberace music and how well it works to enhance the environment. And we highlight some of the changes from novel to screen, comparing the internal world Caan’s character creates to help survive his ordeal versus the taut screenplay that William Goldman delivers, and how the changes don’t take away from the story but really streamline it for this other medium. It’s a gripping, tense, psychological, claustrophobic thriller and we have a great time talking about it. Check it out!
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Stand By Me • The Next Reel Oct 16, 2014

Perhaps it was because elements of the novella ‘The Body’ were autobiographical that the story has so much heart compared to Stephen King’s previous works. Perhaps it was because there weren’t supernatural elements. Or that it didn’t fall into the horror genre. Whatever the reason, ‘The Body’ and the film based on it, Rob Reiner’s 1986 film “Stand By Me,” are beautiful and touching stories about childhood, growing up, friendship, and journeys. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about the next film in our King series, "Stand By Me.” We talk about what this film says for us about memories, nostalgia, youth, friendship, life and more, as well as how these elements contribute to what we love about the movie. We discuss the talent in the amazing four young lead boys — Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O’Connell — and how perfectly cast they all were for the roles they each played. We also talk about Kiefer Sutherland as the antagonist, and what he brings to the table. We chat about the script as well as the novella, and why the story works so well (and why the screenwriters deservingly got an Oscar nomination). And we talk about Reiner as a director, looking at where this movie fits within his career. It’s an incredible film that deserves returning to time and time again. We have a great talk about it this week. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Christine • The Next Reel Oct 09, 2014

There's something about your first love, and there's something about your first car. Stephen King found an interesting way to tap into that with his novel "Christine," and John Carpenter found an interesting way to develop it even further in his 1983 adaptation. Sure, the car may be possessed, but Arnie sure falls for his car... and she for him. It's an interesting take, and one we delve into this week. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Stephen King series with Carpenter's "Christine." We talk about our first experiences with this film and how that compared with our recent viewings of it and whether the film held up or not. We discuss the performances — Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, Robert Prosky, Harry Dean Stanton and more — and how well they worked... or didn't. We chat about the car — the beautiful iterations of the Plymouth Fury that they blend together to create this possessed automobile -- and how she's one of the strongest pieces of the film, particularly the magical scene where Christine rebuilds herself. We touch on script problems, particularly the struggle we have with Christine's reasoning for her kills. And we talk about what John Carpenter brings to the table, and if it holds up with some of his other films made at this time. Andy ends up liking this film more than Pete, but we both have a great time talking it up. Check it out!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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The Dead Zone • The Next Reel Oct 02, 2014

Back in the 70s and 80s, Stephen King's stories generally had a lot more scares in them, as did their cinematic equivalents. Perhaps that's why David Cronenberg's adaptation of "The Dead Zone" feels a bit out of place — it comes off as much more of a dramatic thriller than a horror film. It certainly garnered critical praise and found its audience, but 31 years later, it comes across a bit dated. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Stephen King series with 1983's "The Dead Zone." We talk about our feelings of the movie when we first saw it and where we stand on the film now, finding the film to not hold up that well. We chat about the performances and how they work but don't grab us -- even Christopher Walken who seems to be just developing his strange mannerisms here. We discuss the problematic flow of the story and how its episodic nature really leaves the film forgettable, but perhaps is why the story worked so well in the land of episodic television when the USA Network put it out in 2002. And we touch on the cinematography, the production design and the score, looking at what works and what doesn't. It's still a decent film but oddly forgettable upon revisiting it. But that doesn't stop us from having a great conversation about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Cujo • The Next Reel Sep 25, 2014

There's something truly terrifying about a lovable pet turning on you and attacking. Especially when that pet is a St. Bernard, one of the big dogs with a small barrel of brandy around its neck that's supposed to rescue people lost in the snowy Alps. But that's what makes for great horror, right? Turning something lovable into something horrible. And Stephen King did that perfectly in his novel "Cujo," which was turned into a film in 1983. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our King series with Lewis Teague's great horror film "Cujo." We talk about what the film means to us and why we both love it so much, whether it's as a kid watching it for the first time or as a parent watching it later in life. We discuss the brilliant performances in the film, led by Dee Wallace and Danny Pintauro, and how they help ground the film in a reality that works incredibly well for this King tale that surprisingly remains free of supernatural elements. We chat about the production of the film, how Teague came into it late, the great cinematography of Jan De Bont, Charles Bernstein's score and more. We contemplate why the critics at the time really didn't like the film at all, and how it really hasn't changed frustratingly. And we chat about the nature of working with animals, and how animal trainer Karl Miller managed to get all the various performances Teague needed to tell his story out of somewhere between 5 and 10 dogs, not to mention a man in a dog suit. It's a film that is considered "rotten" on Rotten Tomatoes, but one that we both love. Watch the film and tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Creepshow • The Next Reel Sep 18, 2014

George A. Romero had already established himself as a master of the horror genre when he and Stephen King created their horror anthology film "Creepshow." With two stories based on King's short stories and three original stories written just for this, Romero created a film that pays homage to the great horror comics from the 40s and 50s, like Tales From the Crypt. It balances horror with humor, all in a beautifully stylized comic book template. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- as we continue our Stephen King series with Romero's 1982 film "Creepshow." We discuss this look that Romero instills in the film and how well that works to create this funny and frightening homage. We chat about each story and discuss what works and what doesn't. We talk through the amazing cast that Romero put together, marveling that he was able to get some of the actors that he did. And we touch on the brilliant effects work by Tom Savini, a master in his own right, who brought the monsters and mayhem to life. It's a film that we both had a tremendously fun time watching, so check it out and tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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The Shining • The Next Reel Sep 11, 2014

Stephen King may not have been a fan of what Stanley Kubrick did when he turned King’s third novel, “The Shining,” into one of his films, but audiences didn’t seem to mind. King purists still have problems with some of Kubrick’s decisions, but the film has withstood the test of time and still stands up as one of the great horror movies out there. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin our Stephen King series with Kubrick’s “The Shining.” We talk about how the film works for us and why, looking at which of the performances stand out and which seem maybe a bit over-the-top for us. We discuss Kubrick’s touches on the film, from beginning to end, and discuss what those touches do for the film. We chat about the differences between the book and the movie and how changing the focus of the story does create a very interesting journey into our character’s heads. We touch on various elements of the crew — the cinematographer, the steadicam operator, the production designer & art director, and the editor — and look at their contributions to this frightening film. We ask ourselves if there really is any logic to the photo at the end, and if that matters. And we dismiss the documentary “Room 237” and its conspiracy theories as a bunch of bunk. It’s a fun conversation about one of the great Stephen King adaptations, even if it is one that King was disappointed with. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Labor Day • The Next Reel Sep 04, 2014

There is something interesting about going into a film that's had as many bad reviews as Jason Reitman's "Labor Day" has had, and that has flopped at the box office. Does it taint our own views or make us more critical of it? Hard to say, but it certainly makes for an interesting exploration of a film that works in some ways and doesn't in others. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we celebrate the US's Labor Day holiday weekend with another Reitman film to add to our collection and deliberate on our own views of whether we like this film or not. We talk about how we feel about the film itself and look at what worked for each of us and what didn't work, and compare that with what the public consensus seemed to be. We touch on the thriller vibe the film has with the romantic drama vibe, and how marketing one way or the other can definitely determine how a person approaches the film. We chat about the amazing performances from Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin and Gattlin Griffith and how Reitman always brings amazing performances to his films, even when the script is weaker. We discuss the story, specifically looking at several elements that we both have problems with for one reason or another — the montages and the voiceover — and analyze how they could have affected people's perception of the film. And we look at the unfortunate numbers, acknowledging that people did not click with this film which led it to fail at the box office. It's a compelling film that works better for some than for others, and it's certainly one that provides for a stimulating conversation. Plus we have a special guest give us an insider's report from the Telluride Film Festival! Tune in!
* * *
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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly • The Next Reel Aug 28, 2014

The last of Leone's 'Man with no name' trilogy is the longest and considered by many to be the best. By the time he made it, he was a much more assured and mature storyteller. And it shows. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish the trilogy with 1966's "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." We talk about Leone and the style he's been developing over the course of this trilogy, and what he brings to the table this go-around. We chat about both the climactic gun fight as well as the scene immediately after it, and look at what the filmmakers and storytellers were working to convey in these sequences. We discuss Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and the new-to-Leone's-films Eli Wallach, who brilliantly plays Tuco. And we chat about many on the crew who helped make this film what it is. It's a fantastic film, even if Pete prefers the prior one. Watch the movie then tune in!
* * *
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For a Few Dollars More • The Next Reel Aug 21, 2014

Sergio Leone continued building on the mythos that he and Clint Eastwood had created in "A Fistful of Dollars" with the follow-up, "For a Few Dollars More," and it is in this film that Eastwood really developed so many of the tropes that he would continue using throughout his career. The squinting, silent gazes he'd give before gunning someone down. The one-liners. And for Eastwood's other westerns, a defined look. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our misnamed Man With No Name trilogy series and talk about Eastwood in his second film with Leone, 1965's "For a Few Dollars More.' We discuss the development that Leone shows from his first western to this one, as well as the development that Ennio Morricone shows in developing his brilliant score. We chat about Eastwood as well as the perfect western actor Lee Van Cleef, the ever manic Gian Maria Volonte and the ever frightening Klaus Kinski. We talk about the violence and rape in this film along with the use of marijuana and how it really seemed to break some filmmaking barriers for mainstream movies at the time. And we chat about the fantastic production design that really builds this western world that Eastwood, Van Cleef and Volonte inhabit along with their cast-mates, a world that can still be seen by visiting Mini-Hollywood in Almeria, Spain. It's a wildly fun film and one we have a wonderful time talking about. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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A Fistful of Dollars • The Next Reel Aug 14, 2014

Spaghetti Westerns didn't completely begin with Sergio Leone's 1964 film "A Fistful of Dollars," but his film certainly set a new bar — and created an international audience — for these films. This film revitalized a genre that had been slowly dying by getting rid of the black hat/white hat type of story that instead focused on characters who had a lot more gray in them. And this film is really the film that set Leone on his way to making the types of films he'd continue making throughout his career. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we start our Man With No Name Trilogy series with a conversation about "A Fistful of Dollars." We talk about how this film changed westerns and what its European sensibilities brought to the film that those in the US latched onto. We discuss Clint Eastwood and why he got involved in the film, and look at what he brought to his role as Joe. We chat about the other cast and how they hold up with Eastwood. We discuss the interesting cinematography that in so many ways came to define Leone's style, as well as the standard practice at the time in Italy of post-syncing all of their audio which leads to all of the actors feeling slightly out of sync. And we talk about the violence in the film and discuss how people felt about it at the time along with how it ended up influencing films to follow. It's a great start to Leone's unofficial (but well-marketed) trilogy and we have a blast talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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12 Monkeys • The Next Reel Aug 07, 2014

Terry Gilliam has said that 'The Fisher King' and 'Twelve Monkeys' were two of the easiest films for him to make. Perhaps that's because he found the right way to work in the studio system, perhaps it's because he found the right people to work with, perhaps it's because he wasn't working with his own scripts. It's hard to say why that is, but they certainly proved successful at the box office, showing that Gilliam wasn't box office poison and allowing him to continue his career. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we conclude our Terry Gilliam series with his 1995 film 'Twelve Monkeys.' We talk about what Gilliam did between 'The Fisher King' and this film and why he latched onto this film. We discuss the nature of the story and how it works for us now — is it a film we love or a film that ends up being forgotten not long after rewatching it. We chat about the three main actors — Bruce Willis, Madeline Stowe and Brad Pitt — and what they each bring to the table, as well as some of the fantastic supporting cast. We cover the nature of time travel and debate whether this film's rules really work, or if that matters as long as the rules apply within the film itself. And we chat about Terry Gilliam and what we've learned about him over the course of this series. It's a great way to finish up — tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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The Fisher King • The Next Reel Jul 31, 2014

After the financial disaster that was 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen,' Terry Gilliam needed a way to prove to the studio brass that he could make a great movie that was on budget and made money at the box office. He found it in 'The Fisher King,' the film he made and released in 1991. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Terry Gilliam series with the fantastic 'The Fisher King.' We talk about why this film works so well for us, even if Roger Ebert clearly didn't click with it. We discuss the brilliant 4 leads in the film — Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams, Mercedes Ruehl and Amanda Plummer — and look at what each of them bring to their own roles that make them work so well. We chat about the brilliance of Richard LaGravenese's script and how honest he portrays the characters yet how efficient the script is as well, giving full portrayals of characters even for minor characters (like the brilliant Michael Jeter). And we cover how this film succeeded at the box office and even gathered a handful of Oscar nominations, showing people that Gilliam can make films that make money. It's a wonderful film that we have a great time talking about. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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The Adventures of Baron Munchausen • The Next Reel Jul 24, 2014

After the battle that Terry Gilliam had to endure to release 'Brazil,' it's a shame that his next movie ended up being another debacle. From producer problems to studio exec switcheroos to plain old bad luck, 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen' was a tough film to get made. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Terry Gilliam series with this beautiful but troubled film. We talk about what works in the film and what doesn't work in the film, and what likely were the real problems that didn't help the movie ever find its audience at the time. We chat about the brilliant actors all through the film — including young roles for Uma Thurman and Sarah Polley, as well as a deliciously funny Oliver Reed — and what they brought to the table. We discuss the problems this film had in getting made and yet really only scratch the surface. We talk about how the film did financially and contemplate how it ended up being the lowest grossing film on our list of films we've discussed. And we look at how the film works for us while looking also at how it works for children and wonder if perhaps this film will always be better when first seen through the eyes of a child. It's a fun film that's stunning to look at but full of story problems all the way through, but that doesn't stop us from having a great time talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Brazil • The Next Reel Jul 17, 2014

Terry Gilliam has always been an ambitious director with wild visions for his films. Sometimes that’s worked out, sometimes it hasn’t. In the case of the follow-up to his successful film Time Bandits, Brazil didn’t work out, at least at the time. Gilliam had a very public battle with Sid Sheinberg, the president and CEO of MCA-Universal at the time, who didn’t want to release Gilliam’s film as it was presented to him. It wasn’t until 1996 when Gilliam’s director’s cut was finally released, but people could tell long before that there was a great film here. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Terry Gilliam series with Andy’s favorite movie, Brazil. We talk about the battle in more depth and how it helped and hurt the film. We chat about why Andy likes it so much and look at what Gilliam is doing in this film that does make it stand out as a great film. We touch on the various versions of the film available and what their differences are. We discuss the nature of dreams vs. reality, of bureaucracy and technology, and the importance of ducts among other things. And we chat about many of the talented people both in front of and behind the cameras. It’s a fantastic film that definitely warrants conversation, so check it out and tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Time Bandits • The Next Reel Jul 10, 2014

Getting out from under the shadow of Monty Python proved difficult for Terry Gilliam early in his solo career — no one in America would finance any films for him — so while he waited to get his big movie, "Brazil," off the ground, he wrote a script for an idea he'd been kicking around that would appeal to the whole family. "Time Bandits" proved to be a box office success and still is one of Gilliam's most profitable movies, allowing him to make "Brazil" immediately afterward and continue in the business. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we dig into his 1981 film. We talk about how this film struck us at an early age and how we find it now, thrilled that Gilliam made a children's film that didn't need to gloss anything over for kids but kept it raw and edgy. We chat about the slew of actors running all through it — from the brilliance of the kid and six dwarfs in the titular roles to all the fantastic cameos and bit parts scattered through it (and, of course, most notably the brilliant David Warner playing Evil in the best way possible). We discuss the theological views of the story and how these views don't really affect the film, which can be viewed as simply a children's film still. And we look at the amazing world building done by Gilliam in this film and how he couldn't have done it without the help of his brilliant costume designer, production designer and art director. It's a film that holds up incredibly well for us and holds a special place in our hearts. We have a great chat about it, so check it out and tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Knowing • The Next Reel Jul 03, 2014

Considering how much critics and audiences seem to hate Alex Proyas' 2009 film Knowing, it's surprising that it actually did fairly well at the box office. We don't know if that's proof that people actually like it, but it was hated enough that Andy felt it was appropriate to call it a guilty pleasure of his. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish up our short and fun Guilty Pleasure Series with Proyas' Knowing. Andy talks about why he loves it so much, and Pete talks about what he likes about it while pointing out all the problems he has with it. We debate the merits of what it's trying to do with what is actually presented to us. We chat about the stunning visual effects work, particularly the plane crash, how they went about creating it and why. We discuss the performances, primarily Nicolas Cage's and Rose Byrne's, and how they work for us (if at all). And we look at the importance of scope in the film — does a payoff need to be sized to its setup? It's a great conversation about a much maligned film. Andy's not sure he won Pete over but it's still one that Andy holds dear. Check it out, tune in, then let us know what you think!
* * *
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The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension • The Next Reel Jun 26, 2014

As someone once said, cult films aren't born, they're chosen. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension failed at the box office, but the film was just quirky enough to find that fan base and get propelled into cult status. While the film didn't do well enough to warrant a sequel, it did find a big fan in Pete. Join us — Andy Nelson and Pete Wright — as we begin our short (but hopefully fun) Guilty Pleasure Series with Buckaroo Banzai. Pete talks about why this film is a guilty pleasure for him and Andy admits that, while never having seen the film before, it's one that he could find himself really enjoying given a few more watches. We chat about the world building that the filmmakers infused this film with and find big and obscure films with which to compare its world building. We discuss the actors from top to bottom and how they all infuse the film with great energy, helping to create this world that feels fully formed, even if the script is a bit convoluted. We talk about how the film was received and how it became a cult favorite. And, inevitably, we spill out a few quotes from the film because, well, it's full of them. We have a great time talking about Pete's guilty pleasure this week so check it out!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Atlantic City • The Next Reel Jun 20, 2014

It’s time to draw the curtains on our 1981 series with another Louis Malle film, Atlantic City. While technically made in 1979 and released in Canada and France in 1980, this film wasn’t released in the US until April 1981. Because of that, however, it does feel like a film from the 70s to us, like many films in our series ended up doing. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we discuss Malle’s second film to be released in 1981 in the US. We talk about how the film worked for us — Andy really loved it this go-around, latching on to the characters, the story and the sadness of it all while Pete enjoyed the supporting characters more than the leads and overall felt it dull. We chat about how the film came to be and who else was considered for the parts. We talk about the performances of Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon, and how they work for us, again splitting our opinion. And we examine how timely this film fits into the changing scenery in the real Atlantic City at the time, constant demolition and construction as the city became an East Coast gambling hub. Its a fascinating film that we don’t see eye to eye on, but one that is definitely worth talking about. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Gallipoli • The Next Reel Jun 12, 2014

The late 70s and early 80s were a great time for Australian cinema. The filmmakers churned out lots of great (and cheap) movies and these movies helped create a resurgence of Australian films on the world cinematic stage. Peter Weir was one of these filmmakers, and his 1981 film Gallipoli really helped this resurgence with its story of friendship and the loss of innocence in times of war. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our 1981 series with Weir’s Gallipoli. We talk about the horrors of this battle in Turkey, who fought it and how this film portrays the war. We discuss the odd structure of the film as it focuses primarily on character and less on the war, and why that works, but also why it makes the first half of the film lag a bit. We chat about Mel Gibson and Mark Lee, how they work as actors in this film, and why we like their portrayals. And we touch on how this film’s popularity did help boost it and other Australian films up onto the world stage. It’s a powerful film, even if it’s not something we feel like we’d find ourselves returning to very often. Still. well worth looking at. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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An American Werewolf in London • The Next Reel Jun 05, 2014

John Landis made a big shift in his filmmaking when we went from comedies like The Kentucky Fried Movie and Animal House to An American Werewolf in London. At the time, people weren't used to horror films that blended with comedy and it took him over a decade to actually get it made. The film was, however, a success when it was released and still has a big fan base. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our 1981 series with Landis' horror/comedy film. We discuss why this film works so well for us and what makes it hold up so well, now nearly 33 years since it was first released. We talk about the great cast headed up by David Naughton, Griffin Dunne and Jenny Agutter, and what casting decision almost had the film move to Paris. We talk about the beginning of the film and how we'd rewrite it to fix some little problems we have. We chat about the werewolf effects and how Rick Baker really brought a new level of makeup effects to the forefront of cinema, changing it forever. And we discuss many other aspects of the film — cinematography, editing, sound mixing, composing — that elevate the film into something that builds an incredibly effective world and makes for a film that stands the test of time. We love this film and have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
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Thief • The Next Reel May 29, 2014

Michael Mann has spent most of his film career exploring the world of crime and the criminals that inhabit it. Not to mention neon lighting. His feature film debut, Thief, certainly started him on the right track. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our 1981 series with Mann's Thief. We talk about why this film works well for us as well as what elements don't work, really digging into Mann and his proclivity to give short shrift to his female characters. We chat about the truth brought to the film by bringing on real thieves to work as technical advisors, training James Caan to work with real equipment and actually really cracking safes on screen. We talk about the great James Caan as well as the rest of the cast — Tuesday Weld, James Belushi, Robert Prosky and more — and what they all bring to the movie. We chat about Tangerine Dream and their music, why Mann hired them, and what, if anything, works with their score. And we really dig into the character arc of Frank played by Caan, discussing how it works in context of the script, and why the actual ending of the screenplay changes his story in a way that works for us even if it doesn't feel very much like a 'Michael Mann' ending. It's a great film that we're happy to revisit. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Blow Out • The Next Reel May 22, 2014

Anyone who listens to the show knows that we have a love/hate relationship with Brian De Palma. With his 1981 film Blow Out, he makes one of his strongest films and lands squarely on the side of ‘love’ for us (thank the heavens since neither of us had seen it recently and we couldn’t remember it well enough). Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our 1981 series with De Palma’s Blow Out. We talk about the tone of the film and why it worked so well for De Palma. We chat about the opening sequence and if it starts the film on the wrong tone or if, perhaps, it gives a sense of the irony at work within the film. We discuss the actors — notably John Travolta, Nancy Allen, John Lithgow and Dennis Franz — and how well they work for us (except Nancy Allen who plays her character in a way that might not work as well for some). We chat about the brilliant production work by the DP, the sound team and the production design team, building a film that films haunting and tragic. And we talk about the nature of De Palma, what he’s doing with this film, what techniques he employs and why it works so well. We loved this film and we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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My Dinner with André • The Next Reel May 15, 2014

My Dinner With Andre is certainly not an easy film to classify. It certainly is a film that could be considered divisive, but that's really between people who get into it and people who just don't click with it. It is a film of two people having a conversation over dinner, after all. But to many, it is one of Louis Malle's classics, a film that makes many lists of great films, and a film that inspires conversation. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- as we have our own conversation about this film that fits in our 1981 film series. We talk about how the film worked for us when we first saw it and how it hit us on this most recent viewing. We look at what the film is really about, why it works and why it draws us in. We discuss the origins of the film and how Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory came up with the idea, wrote it, got it into Malle's hands and ended up making the film. And we chat about how everyone needs to get their own Wallace and Andre action figures, the kind that Corky has in Waiting for Guffman. It's a great film, albeit one we wouldn't put on too often, but certainly one that inspires a fantastic conversation. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Escape from New York • The Next Reel May 08, 2014

Many films in the early 80s continued the cynicism of the 70s, and that certainly holds true for a number of John Carpenter's films, who has used several of his films and characters in them to take a pointed look at the hypocrisy of the government and society's ills as he saw them. His 1981 film 'Escape From New York' falls into that mold, while also feeling like nothing more than an early 80s action thriller set in a dystopian future. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our 1981 series with Carpenter's 'Escape From New York.' We talk about how the film holds up for us (not very well despite still being fun) and why it likely doesn't work as well as other films of Carpenter's in that period. We discuss the glimpse into the year 1997 as the film describes it and reminisce about what really happened in 1997. We chat about the performances, from Kurt Russell in one of his iconic roles, to Lee Van Cleef to Adrienne Barbeau to Isaac Hayes in a role far too weakly written for him. We touch on the production of the film and how they didn't film any of it in New York City except a few bits on Liberty Island. And we chat about the character of "Snake" Plissken, why he works, why we like him, and if we agree with Russell in saying that it's an intrinsically American character and should only be played by American actors when they finally get around to doing a remake. It's a fun film that unfortunately really carries the burden of its budget and its time around its neck, getting weighed down and faltering when it has such a great concept. Regardless, we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Das Boot • The Next Reel May 01, 2014

There are great years of cinema like 1999 when the films seem to redefine the direction of the medium. And then there are years that, while maybe not changing the nature of cinema, certainly have a lot of great movies.1981 is one of those years. Wolfgang Peterson's epic WWII submarine film came out in Germany in 1981 and changed the way many filmmakers constructed tension in war and action films. It changed the way people viewed Germans during the war because it portrayed the submariners as simply human. And it became the most popular foreign language film in the US for a very long time. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin our series on 1981 with Peterson's "Das Boot." We talk about the power of the anti-war story and why it works so well, even if German critics at the time thought it was a horrible move on the part of the filmmakers. We discuss the director and his cast, looking at what each of them bring to the table, particularly Jürgen Prochnow as the Captain of the U-boat. We go over the length and debate the worth of the additional hour in the director's cut — was it necessary to add it all back into the film? We talk about taking the tour of the Bavaria Film Studios to see the original full-scale model of the submarine (and take a ride on Falcor from The NeverEnding Story!) And we talk about the complexities of shooting a submarine film with models, handheld cameras with gyroscopic stabilization systems, moving sets on gimbles made to spec, and more. It's a powerful film that perhaps begins to wear its welcome, but we love it and have a great time talking about it this week. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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The Matrix • The Next Reel Apr 24, 2014

People often talk about the great movie year of 1999, and one of the great films that came out that year is 'The Matrix,' the film that made bullet-time a filmmaking standard and stunt wire work almost an expectation in action films. But it's a great film because of its script, written by Lana née Larry and Andy Wachowski, who went on to co-direct it as well. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we delve into our next Listener's Choice movie selection with 'The Matrix.' We talk about the script and how it works in the world of science fiction, but also how the script goes beyond that by including elements from a wide variety of other sources — religions, movie genres, writings and theories, etc. We discuss how well it does with these heavier and headier ideas, and if those elements matter when watching the film to make it enjoyable. We chat about the cast and crew and everything they're bringing to the table to create this amazing world. We mention the film just had its 15th birthday and argue about whether it holds up as well as it first did or if it's showing its age now. And we really have to deliberate with this versus several other films we've discussed in previous episodes when trying to rank it on Flickchart. It's a great film that's well worth talking about. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Trollhunter • The Next Reel Apr 17, 2014

One of the interesting things to explore in the usage of found footage style films is how it can be applied to different genres. Okay, so it works better in some genres than others, but it's not a genre in and of itself, nor is it restricted to horror movies. But one thing that is consistent is the fact that we're watching real people in a real situation they likely didn't survive. There is an inherent connection to reality that isn't present in other styles of films because of this, and in a film like Norway's 'Trollhunter,' it ups the stakes because everything feels that much more real. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we wrap up our found footage series with André Øvredal's 2010 fantasy thriller 'Trollhunter.' We talk about why this film works and what works about it — from the trolls to Otto Jespersen's world weary titular character Hans, from the effects (mostly) to the reality presented in the film. We discuss the interesting religious thoughts brought up in the film, and also look at the insightful story of the government and its need to control what information the people get. We chat about the myths of the trolls in Norwegian folklore and how bringing them so literally to life in this film helps the reality of the story, though possibly hurts it as well. And we frame it in context of our other found footage films to really get a sense as to what works and what doesn't. It's a fun series to have under our belts, and one we certainly hope to revisit in the future. Tune in!
* * *
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Chronicle • The Next Reel Apr 10, 2014

When making found footage style films, it's important to stick with the conceit — someone is holding the camera and filming events as they happen, then we someone later stumble upon the footage and watch it to understand what happened. What's great about Josh Trank's 2012 debut film 'Chronicle' is that he takes that conceit and finds ways to use it to his advantage while also exploring ways to break out of the conceit with multiple cameras and camera movement. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our found footage series with this great superhero film. We talk about how Trank did an amazing job of modifying the conceit in order to tell an excellent film, warts and all. We discuss the cast — from Dane DeHaan to Michael B Jordan — and look look at what they each bring to the film. And we look at this story in context of superhero origin stories and discuss the idea of developing a new super villain. It's a creative and fun movie and we have a great time talking about it. Check it out!
* * *
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Cloverfield • The Next Reel Apr 03, 2014

The J.J. Abrams team jumped into the found footage realm with a fun Godzilla-style monster movie that was kept under strict wraps while filming, to the point where excited audience members actually believed that it might have possibly been a live-action version of Voltron. "Cloverfield," which, in the film, is the name the government gives to this top secret creature after-the-fact, is a unique creature feature that at once allowed for an intimate story set in a massive location. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we discuss Matt Reeves' 2008 film "Cloverfield." We talk about how this film handles the camerawork vs. "Quarantine," and why this one may employ a bit more shaky-cam than our previous film. We discuss the goods and bads in the film, notably talking about how for both of us, the cast is one of our biggest problems with the movie. We chat about the filming and editing process and how they're used differently in a found footage style film. And we talk about the monster and how well she works for us. It's a fun film that may not be our favorite, but still is a lot of fun. It's well worth talking about. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Quarantine • The Next Reel Mar 27, 2014

For many audience members, found footage films are just an opportunity to to film a horror story on the cheap and don't bring anything to the table. There are films, however, that work to use the filmmaking style to their advantage in exploring different ways to tell their stories. Sure, it's a conceit, but if you buy into it, it can make for a fun style of storytelling. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin our Found Footage Series with John Erick Dowdle's 2008 film "Quarantine." We talk about the nature of found footage films, what they need, why they're often horror films, and why it works in this film. We discuss the script of this film and, while still enjoyable, what big problem crops up late in the film that leads to too many questions and, if thought about critically, can really spoil the story. We chat about the original Spanish film, "[REC]," on which this is based, what the differences are, which version works better, and why the original film's director hates this one so much. We chat about the cast and what they bring to the table in a film largely made up of long shots. And we complain about the marketing images for this film and ponder what could possibly have been their intention when using the film's final image as the poster design. It's a fun and frightening horror film that has its problems, but still is effective at creating a claustrophobic horror film. We have a great chat about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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A League of Their Own • The Next Reel Mar 20, 2014

Tom Hanks and baseball — they go together like peanut butter and chocolate. Aside from always wanting to be an astronaut, Hanks has always been a great baseball fan and eagerly jumped at the chance to be in Penny Marshall's 1992 film about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The film is a crowd pleaser and drew in the crowds when it was released, which was great because it shined a light on an aspect of sports history that had sadly been largely forgotten. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish our Tom Hanks series with a dip back into our spring Baseball series of past years. We talk about how this film came to be, and how Penny Marshall couldn't even find any female screenwriters to come on board to write the script. We discuss the performances and how everyone, from top to bottom, really fits their parts and puts in the work, even if we don't always care for their performances. We chat about the script and how that might be what's leading to some of our struggles with performances as the script really does feel straight out of screenwriting basic training. We talk about the roles of women in sports and in media, how skewed toward men it all is, and how this film does help give better role models for young girls. And we close it out discussing Hanks himself and what these four films in the first decade (for the most part) of his career showed us about who he is and where he'd be going. It's a great film, albeit with a basic script, that highlights a key time in our history, and we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Apollo 13 • The Next Reel Mar 13, 2014

Tom Hanks already won his back-to-back Oscars and with an ensemble film like "Apollo 13," he wasn't a clear choice to get nominated again to make a three-peat a possibility. All of that aside, as anyone on the cast or crew who worked on the film knows — as well as anyone who saw the film — he was clearly born to play an astronaut. He reunited with Ron Howard on the making of this amazing film dealing with one of the worst space disasters the world has ever seen, and even though everyone knew what happened, it was a compelling piece of cinema. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Tom Hanks series with "Apollo 13." We talk about the amazing effects work and how it seamlessly blends with real footage, miniatures, and amazing weightless photography filmed in the vomit comet. We discuss the performances throughout the film and what each of the performers brings to the story, including Hanks, Gary Sinise, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, and Kathleen Quinlan. We chat about the roles of women in this film and similar films, what works and what doesn't for us in their part of the story, and why we feel they're portrayed the way they are. We talk about the amazing score done by James Horner in this film and how well it fits in context of the film. And we chat about some of the awards the film won, was nominated for, and wasn't nominated for, and what we think about that. It's a great movie — one of our favorites — and we have a fantastic conversation about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Forrest Gump • The Next Reel Mar 06, 2014

"Forrest Gump" broke all sorts of box office records when it was released in the summer of 1994, which may be why people spent a lot of time digging into what they thought the film was really saying, even if it's not what the filmmakers were actually saying. At its heart, it's a character story about people struggling to find their paths in life, and looking back on it 20 years later, it's still an absolutely beautiful film. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Tom Hanks series with Robert Zemeckis' Oscar-winning film, "Forrest Gump." We talk about the rhetoric and opinions that came out shortly after the film's release and where we each stand with those lines of thinking. We discuss the amazing performances across the board, focusing on Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Sally Field and Hailey Joel Osment. We chat about the stunning effects work all through this film and how they're often completely invisible, and we reveal our opinions on the Oscars that year and what we think should have won. It's a great conversation about an unforgettable film. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Splash • The Next Reel Feb 27, 2014

In the late 70s and early 80s, Disney Pictures had been getting grief for releasing films that were too adult. When “Splash” came along, they decided to create a new label for releasing more adult fare. And thus, Touchstone Pictures was born! On top of that, the film was such a success that it pushed its star, Tom Hanks, and director, Ron Howard, up toward the upper echelons of the Hollywood elite. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin our Tom Hanks series near the beginning of his career with “Splash,” a film that Andy holds near and dear to his heart while Pete struggles with many aspects of it. We talk about the beginnings of Hanks’ career and how he ended up getting cast in this film, as well as how well he works in it. We touch on the other actors — Daryl Hannah, John Candy and Eugene Levy in particular — and how they do in the film. We discuss what works for Andy and what doesn’t work for Pete and try to identify specific elements that could be causing Pete to disconnect from the movie. And we chat about the cinematography and how beautiful the film looks, standing out from the flat lighting most comedies suffer from. It’s a film Andy and Pete likely will never agree on, but it’s certainly fun to talk about. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Inception • The Next Reel Feb 20, 2014

It's a sad state to consider that Christopher Nolan had to fight to get money to make "Inception" because it wasn't a sequel, based on a comic book, a remake, or something similar. It was purely an original script about a wild inverted heist taking place inside someone's dreams. Sure, Warner Bros. eventually gave Nolan $160 million plus to make his film and it went on to become one of the highest grossing films of all time, but the fact that he had to fight to get money doesn't bode well for the state of the industry. All that aside, it's a marvel of a film, and we conclude our latest Original Sci-Fi series with this non-benevolent alien movie, Nolan's 2010 film, "Inception." Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about Nolan and the wild story he tells in this film, and how much of a struggle it must have been to not just fight to get the money but also to introduce all the exposition that goes along with telling an original film about dream thieves. We chat about Nolan's preference for physical effects and how much they bring to the film, even if some of them had to get enhanced by digital effects. We discuss the performers, particularly Leonardo DiCaprio and Marion Cotillard and the relationship their characters have. We go over the ending and what we think happens, as well as cover Nolan's intentions for ending it as he did. And we talk about the bombastic score by Hans Zimmer and how well it works in the film. Its an incredible film every time you watch it, and makes for a lot of great conversation. Join us!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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- [Check out Tom Metz on IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1224453/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1)
- [Follow Mike Evans on Twitter](https://twitter.com/ubersky)
- [Follow Chadd Stoops on Twitter](https://twitter.com/ChaddStoops)
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The Abyss • The Next Reel Feb 13, 2014

When the extended trailer for James Cameron's 1989 undersea scifi spectacular, "The Abyss," was released, detailing everything from the production on sets built in an unfinished power plant to the intense action and character moments throughout the film, all set to Michael Stearns' powerful score from the IMAX film "Chronos," it set the stage for an epic film that promised to deliver "Aliens" underwater. When the film was released, it received good reviews and earned its money back, but wasn't what people expected. Plus, it had an ending that left audiences scratching their heads a bit. But 3 years later, Cameron was able to return to it and release an extended version with nearly 30 minutes of new material, including an extended ending that answered a lot of questions, even if it did add an element to the story that feels heavy handed. His new version was received very positively and showed that going back and meddling with a film could result in a better product, and it's definitely a film worth rewatching. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Original SciFi series with "The Abyss." We talk about what works for us and what doesn't in this film, and how much that really matters in the end. We talk about the amazing cast that really sell the story — even the cheesy lines and heavy-handed plot elements — and why some of them refuse to talk about production of this film to this day. We chat about the effects and where this film fits in the context of the history of special effects development. We discuss Cameron and his ability to make films as well as his passion for technologies and undersea exploration, and how those two passions came together perfectly here. And we discuss the nature of film worlds versus the real world, and how accurate a film needs to be when depicting real things. It's a great film with some problematic elements that we're perfectly willing to overlook, and we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Close Encounters of the Third Kind • The Next Reel Feb 06, 2014

In 1977, Devil's Tower went from being known as the first National Monument (for those who had actually heard of it) to the iconographic image marking the rendezvous point where the aliens want to meet the humans in Steven Spielberg's third theatrical film, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." The release and success of the movie saw visits to the monument skyrocket, which shows the power in Spielberg's film. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we jump back into our Original SciFi series with this fantastic entry into the genre. We talk about the way this film has changed in our eyes as we've gotten older, and how the parenting of both Roy and Gillian, played by Richard Dreyfuss and Melinda Dillon, now feels incredibly poor. We discuss the nature of the 3 existing cuts of this film, what's different, what works and what doesn't in the changes, why the changes were made and which to watch. We chat about the nature of this film in the world of scifi films and why is feels very naturalistic, playing to realistic sensibilities that fit very much with Spielberg's views at the time he made this that it was more science speculation than it was science fiction — it's a story of alien visitors in a world where he believed we had already been visited. We go through the incredible talents behind the amazing special effects, the music, the editing and the production design, as well as the line up of the cast, even if Pete feels Spielberg should've swapped Dillon and Teri Garr in their roles. And we question the decision to put a "PRESENT DAY" title card up at the start of this film when watching it today clearly dates the film (leading us to question the import of ever using this title card). It's a fantastic and lengthy discussion over one of our favorite science fiction films of all time. Tune in!
* * *
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In the Mood for Love • The Next Reel Jan 30, 2014

Wong Kar-Wai's sumptuous film "In the Mood for Love" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000 and, while it lost the Palm d'Or, it left an indelible impression on everyone who saw it. A story of a connection between a man and woman who learn their spouses are having an affair, the film deals with their growing friendship as they help each other come to terms with the infidelity. In the process, they also struggle with their own draw to each other. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we discuss the first of our Listener's Choice films. Steven Smart won the drawing and chose this film for us to discuss, and we're thrilled he did because we both fell in love with it. We talk about the nature of the love between the two leads played by Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung and how, on the one hand, the draw they have to each other is never consummated because they don't want to stoop to the level of their spouses, while on the other hand, they both are afraid that it's not what the other person wants so they don't act. We discuss the stunning look of the film, both from a cinematography standpoint as well as costumes and production design, and how the artists behind those elements make the film what it is. And we chat about director Wong Kar-Wai and how he started making one film but ended up with this one (perhaps because he did this without a script?). It's a beautiful film that touched both of us with its art and finesse. We had a wonderful time watching this film and have a great time chatting about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Richard Dysart: A Special Next Reel Interview • The Next Reel Jan 30, 2014

Richard Dysart is one of those faces that you instantly recognize. He's acted on the stage, on the movie screen and on the TV screen most of his life. In his films, he generally played strong supporting characters, helping to fill any given scene with what it needed. (Look at him in the films we've discussed in our Dysart series as well as several past shows — The Hospital and The Thing — to really get a sense as to what he brought to those movies.) On TV, he often carried the projects, whether he was playing a US President (he played Truman and Eisenhower twice each), a studio head (Jack Warner and Louis B. Mayer), or his most iconic character, Leland McKenzie on the entire run of L.A. Law. He's worked in about every genre there is (as well as animation), has played some of the kindest characters on screen and some of the most vile, and has worked with an incredibly wide array of actors, directors and others in the industry. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we have a special episode talking with the incredible, humble and versatile Richard Dysart. We talk with Dick about where his passion for this crazy industry grew from and how he took that passion and turned it into a career in radio, which led to theatre, eventually TV and inevitably film. We chat about the way 'live TV' worked and how everyone was still kinda winging it in this fledgling industry at the time, and talk about how it's changed as the industry matured. We discuss his move into film, first playing an uncredited role in a Steve McQueen film, and then touch on a wide variety of movies that he worked in over the years. We point out several of our favorites and talk about the work on those specific projects. And we ask him about what he's up to now and if he has any regrets with his career. It's a delightful conversation with a funny, congenial man full of insight about the industry, stories about experiences on set, and a genuine passion for the world of acting. We're thrilled to ask you to join us for this special episode.
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Pale Rider • The Next Reel Jan 23, 2014

"Pale Rider" marks Clint Eastwood's 10th time directing himself in a film, something he went on doing until 2008's "Gran Torino" and something he clearly knows how to do well. This seems to hold true especially in westerns, even though he only directed himself in four of them. Perhaps that's because he had so much experience in them and learned from other directors like Sergio Leone how to stand, how to ride, how to stare, how to shoot on film. And while "Pale Rider" is an obvious retelling of the classic 1953 film "Shane," it can stand on its own merits and doesn't feel like a ripoff. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- as we come to the last film in our Richard Dysart series, 1985's "Pale Rider." We talk about the story of this film and how lean it is, while also apparently being a ghost story, something neither of us ever caught on to until reading up on it. We discuss the actors, notably Eastwood, Michael Moriarty, Carrie Snodgress, Richard Kiel, Sydney Penny, and of course Richard Dysart, and how well they work in this film. We chat about the Biblical references in the film, the idea of Eastwood's character, Preacher, being a ghost, and how that structure works in context of this story. We talk about the nature of the little man versus the corporate machine, something we've talked about in a few recent episodes, and how it works in this film. We go over the look of this film and discuss what Bruce Surtees and Eastwood bring to the film by using low lighting, particularly for the night and interior scenes. And we touch on Lennie Niehaus's music and why it works so well in context of the film. It's a classic western with some great moments that further cement Eastwood as the true iconic 'stranger' character. Give it a watch then tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Being There • The Next Reel Jan 16, 2014

Hal Ashby made a number of stand-out films in the 70s, films that looked at human nature in offbeat stories that didn't feel like they came from a mold. When Peter Sellers presented him with the opportunity to direct an adaptation of Jerzy Kosinski's novella "Being There" shortly after the book's publication, he loved the idea and spent the next 9 years working to find the funding to get it made. The film was finally released in 1979 and was considered by many to be Peter Sellers' return to greatness. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Richard Dysart series with this fantastic film. We look at the era of the film and, while it's certainly a 70s film, it still feels timeless. We talk about the nature of Sellers's fascinating portrayal of Chance the Gardener (or as Chauncey Gardiner, as he comes to be known), and what our own interpretations of this character are. We chat about the way the film ends and what we think Kosinski and Ashby were wanting to say... if anything. We discuss the nature of the footage during the end credits and debate whether it takes away from the mysterious and beautiful mood the end of the film creates or not. And we discuss both cast and crew in this film, including the wonderful Richard Dysart who brings an amazing, quiet gracefulness to his benevolent doctor who is the only one not fooled by Sellers' Chance. It's a film we love and love to discuss. Watch it and tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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The Day of the Locust • The Next Reel Jan 09, 2014

There have been a good number of films made about the film industry, but few have taken such a dark and surreal look at the Hollywood machine as John Schlesinger's 1975 "The Day of the Locust" did. While it's based on the Nathanael West book from 1939 and takes place at that time, it feels like a modern — or possibly even timeless — story of the business and the fringe-dwellers who want to be a part of its magic. Join us — [Pete Wright](https://twitter.com/petewright) and [Andy Nelson](https://twitter.com/sodacreekfilm) — as we begin our Richard Dysart series with Schlesinger's film. We talk about our experiences with this film (which is at times mind-boggling, slow, horrifically violent, absurd, and pointedly smart) and how it's one of those films that sticks with you whether you want it to or not. We discuss the performances and how perfect they are for the story — William Atherton, Karen Black, Donald Sutherland, Billy Barty, and of course Richard Dysart. We chat about the interesting structure this film has, feeling more like a novel than a 3-act screenplay, and how it challenges us with trying to determine who we would call the protagonist. And we work to figure out what the film is saying through some of its incredibly haunting imagery. It's not a film for everyone, but it's certainly a film worth watching if you're looking for a dark tale spun about the movie machine and how it destroys people. It certainly is a film that warrants a lot of discussion. Think you're up for it? Give it a watch then tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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The Hudsucker Proxy • The Next Reel Jan 02, 2014

Happy New Year! To ring in 2014, we wanted to find a tie-in to the new year so landed on 1994's Coen brothers comedy, "The Hudsucker Proxy." Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we delve back into the comedies from our good friends the brothers Coen and ring in 2014 with this fun film.
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Christmas in Connecticut • The Next Reel Dec 26, 2013

It's the holiday season again which means it's time for us — Pete and Andy — to talk about another holiday classic! Join us as we talk about Peter Godfrey's screwball war comedy from 1945, "Christmas in Connecticut." We talk about how much fun the movie is and how it feels a bit pro-feminist yet how it definitely shows its age at the same time. We talk about the great cast, particularly the wonderful Barbara Stanwyck, Sydney Greenstreet, S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, Dennis Morgan, Reginald Gardiner and Una O'Connor, and how well they fit in their roles. We discuss Godfrey and his place in Hollywood, as well as his hobby as an amateur magician. And we chat about how this film fits in our holiday lists — is this one we'd put on every year or not? It's a fun, albeit dated, movie and we have a great time chatting about this movie. Give it a watch then tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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City of God • The Next Reel Dec 19, 2013

It's easy to compare "City of God" to "GoodFellas" — they both have a frenetic filmmaking style, they both revolve around youth growing up in a world of violence, and they both take that violence to awful places. Plus, they're both brilliant films. Join us — [Pete Wright](https://twitter.com/petewright) and [Andy Nelson](https://twitter.com/sodacreekfilm) — this week on The Next Reel as we finish our Foreign Language series with a true highlight — Fernando Mereilles' and Katia Lund's 2002 film "City of God." We talk about the story and how it introduces us to this world of the favelas of Rio that not only gives us a sense of the time and place in the film incredibly effectively, but also connects us to characters that fit in this world and take us on a journey over several decades here, yet in a way that still feels intimate. We discuss the energetic and wild cinematography and directing style of the film and why it works so well. We chat about how the film was received around the world and why so many people have connected with it. And we talk about other projects Mereilles has done and how they differ or are similar to his style we see here. It's a great conversation about a great film. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Yi Yi: A One and a Two... • The Next Reel Dec 12, 2013

Even though Edward Yang's final film, "Yi Yi, A One and a Two," was critically acclaimed, it is a long film and requires patience, the right frame of mind when watching, or something similar to really connect with the film. At just shy of three hours and exploring pretty much every aspect of life in one Taipei family over the course of a year, it's certainly something that can tax some viewers, but for those who click with it, it's a masterful, powerful, poignant film. Join us — [Pete Wright](https://twitter.com/petewright) and [Andy Nelson](https://twitter.com/sodacreekfilm) — as we continue our Foreign Language film series with this Taiwanese entry from 2000. We discuss what works so well in this film... for Andy and what doesn't work at all in this film... for Pete, having very interesting discourse back and forth in the struggle to explore this film. We talk about the characters in the film and what they're bringing to the story, most notably the young Yang-Yang who ends up providing the most poignant elements of the story. We chat about the New Wave of Taiwanese cinema in the 80s-90s when Yang was beginning his career and how that group and their sensibilities informed Yang's filmmaking. And we discuss what works and doesn't work for us in the cinematography and the editing, and why it works so well for Andy but not Pete. It's a fascinating exploration into a film that clearly works for some but not others, and one that's full of fun facts and interesting arguments. Watch the movie and tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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- [Follow Mike Evans on Twitter](https://twitter.com/ubersky)
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Run Lola Run • The Next Reel Dec 05, 2013

"Run Lola Run" came out during a period when lots of unique and truly fantastic films were opening up in theaters. Luckily for Lola, it was equally unique and fantastic, ensuring that it didn't get buried. Tom Tykwer's wild film, so thoroughly infused with energy and style, took a simple tale of a woman trying to (quickly) raise money for her boyfriend to ensure he doesn't get killed by the gangsters for which he works, and gave it a philosophical bent when he decided to write it in almost a video game style where we see the same situation play out three times. It's an absolutely fascinating film to watch and a very easy film to enjoy. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Foreign Language Film series with this thrill of a film. We discuss the nature of the film itself and the almost avant garde dreamscape nature of it, exploring what it was Tykwer was trying to say by making the film this way. We chat about what works for us and what doesn't, and look at one sequence in particular that ended up feeling more problematic than it has in the past. We talk about the performances, notably Franke Potente and Moritz Bleibtreu, and why they work so well for us. And we chat about the style, particularly the cinematography and editing, and how they help the film achieve this level of energy not often maintained as well in other films. We both love this film, despite some problems, and have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
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The Diving Bell and the Butterfly • The Next Reel Nov 28, 2013

Rarely does a film truly take you into somebody's head for almost the entire film. Sure, you get POVs here and there in films, but it's a tricky tool to use, especially for longer periods of time. When Ronald Harwood hit on this in-the-head technique for his adaptation of Jean-Dominique Bauby's biography, it was exactly what the story needed to be told as a film. Enter Julian Schnabel, an artist/filmmaker who brought his own intuitive magic to the directing of it, and you end up with 2007's "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," a stunningly gorgeous film that's as powerful a story of human resilience and beauty as it is a difficult film to watch because of the subject — a man living with locked-in syndrome. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our foreign language series with this brilliant film. We talk about our feelings of the movie and how powerful it is yet how difficult it can be to watch and why. We chat about the unique techniques Schnabel brings to the table in the making of the film and why they work so well with this story. We discuss the actors — Mathieu Amalric, Max von Sydow, Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josée Croze and more — and how they all bring an amazing personal strength to the film. We talk about Janusz Kaminski's beautiful cinematography and how well it lends itself to the telling of this story. We bring up the novel Bauby's widowed girlfriend wrote about her experience and talk about why she got virtually left out of the film. And we look at the critical reception this film had worldwide, even if it struggled to bring in the bucks. It's a glorious poem of a film and one worth talking about. Definitely check it out then tune in!
* * *
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Intacto • The Next Reel Nov 21, 2013

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo broke onto the international scene with "28 Weeks Later," the sequel to Danny Boyle's film, and has been tied to a number of high-profile Hollywood projects since, including the just-announced "Pet Sematary" remake. But it's his feature film debut, 2002's "Intacto," that one only need look at to understand why this writer/director is in such hot demand. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin our Foreign Language series with a show about this fascinating movie from Spain about people who gamble not to win money, but to win luck. We talk about the fantastic element of this story — the idea that luck is something that can be taken from other people through touch or photos — and how it works in the film. We discuss the problems with the script that we have and the struggle to fully understand all of it on a single viewing, even though it's so easy to look past these issues while enjoying this film. We chat about the global feel of the film and how interesting it works as a movie made by a first-time feature filmmaker, creating a project that truly gives an immense sense of scale and a complex sense of the world. And Andy goes on and on about his fascination for the Malaysian Jungle Nymph, aka the Heteropteryx dilatata, the giant bug that lands on Tomas' head in the film, and how he wants to raise his own. (Pete, on the other hand, is whole-istically against it.) It's a great way to kick off our foreign language series. If you haven't seen the movie, definitely check it out, then tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Redbelt • The Next Reel Nov 14, 2013

David Mamet's always one to put cons in his films, even when the film is a fight film taking place in the world of mixed martial arts. His 2008 film, "Redbelt," feels like a mash-up of genres — a con film, a fight film, a film noir, a samurai film, an intimate character portrait. It's a bit of all of these, and probably because it's hard to pin it down, it couldn't find its audience when it was released. Despite that, we wanted to include it in our David Mamet Directs series. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we discuss the 10th film Mamet's directed. We discuss the nature of the genre mash-up and how it works for us, compared with how it worked for audiences when it came out. We talk about our opinions of the film and why it works for us, despite numerous problems. We chat about Chewie — the amazing Chiwetel Ejiofor — and not only what he brings to the role of the jiu jitsu instructor who stands by his principles against all adversity, but also how that helps make the film what it is (especially the final moments). And we talk about the amazing Robert Elswit and what he brings to the film through his stellar cinematography. It's a fascinating, wonderful film that definitely deserves to be seen by more people. Check it out and tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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The Spanish Prisoner • The Next Reel Nov 07, 2013

David Mamet has made a name for himself as a playwright, as a screenwriter, as an author, and as a writer/director. His fifth film that he wrote and directed, "The Spanish Prisoner," didn't make many waves when it came out in 1998, but it seemed to impress the critics and it ended up in the black. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin a short David Mamet Directs series by talking about this film. We talk about what makes this film work and what makes it fall apart, and how that works for us. We discuss the nature of 'Mamet speak,' the type of dialogue that Mamet is known for, and how the actors work with that dialogue in this film. We chat about the convoluted and complicated con going on in this film, and address why it is much more problematic returning to it a second time. And we talk about the nature of the problems in the film and wonder if some of it may have been intentional by Mamet. It's an interesting film, despite it's flaws, and we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Say Anything... • The Next Reel Oct 31, 2013

In 1989, Cameron Crowe made his directorial debut with what many consider to be one of his best films, "Say Anything..." It wasn't one of the top films at the box office that year, but it certainly found its audience since then and is still hailed by many to be one of the great romantic films out there. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about Crowe's first film. We discuss our memories of the film when it first came out and compare it with our feelings about it today — interestingly, neither of us feel that strongly about the film anymore. We chat about the amazing roster of talent, not just in the big roles but also the supporting roles and cameos all through the film, and look at what works and what doesn't. We discuss the problems we have with the film now — notably the subplot with Diane's dad and his troubles with the IRS — and try to analyze what it is about them that's not working. And we talk about how the film uses Seattle, the city in which it was filmed, in comparison with other films, notably "Sleepless in Seattle." It's a film we found ourselves remembering more fondly for what it once meant to us rather than what it does for us today, but we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Sleepless in Seattle • The Next Reel Oct 24, 2013

While romantic comedies may be dead in our current day and age, they were alive and well 20 years ago when Norah Ephron’s “Sleepless in Seattle” came out. And what sort of hurdle did they put between the couple to keep them apart until the end of the film? Why, they had them on opposite sides of the country and never actually had them meet until the very end of the film! It’s genius! Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about this fantastic 1993 film, the latest in our romantic comedy series. We discuss the brilliant cast — Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Ross Malinger, Bill Pullman, Victor Garber, Rita Wilson, and more — and what they all bring to the film. We chat about the great script and how strong it is, still holding up unbelievably well today, and how it changes the landscape of romantic comedies. We talk about the music and how prevalent it is, why it works so well, and why the original composer, John Barry, left. And we discuss the nature of rom-coms today, ruminating on whether this script would’ve been able to get the greenlight in modern Hollywood. We love this film and have a wonderful time chatting about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist • The Next Reel Oct 17, 2013

Peter Sollett was an indie film director that got his 'big' Hollywood break with 2008's Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, a simple, honest sweet film that did well enough at the box office for him to get to continue his career as a director. This sweet film is the next in our fun-filled Horror-spectacular month of Romantic Comedy that we're right in the middle of. It's actually quite a fun series. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about this cute indie RomCom, possibly the first in our discussion that truly fits the genre. We talk about the cast, particularly Michael Cera and Kat Dennings, and how the two of them really embody these two characters of Nick and Norah so perfectly and why we like them in the roles — as well as problems we may have with them. We discuss the origins of the original novel and how the gum wasn't really in the novel but became such a prevalent story device in the film. We chat about the music and how music really plays an integral part of RomComs (or at least the ones we're talking about on the show). And we talk about the simplicity of the story, what works about it, and what doesn't work about it — namely why we didn't seem to connect to it as much this go-around and where this film likely will fall in our collective memories in 50 years. It's a very sweet, simple film that we both like, albeit less than we used to, and we have a great time talking about. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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About a Boy • The Next Reel Oct 10, 2013

We continue our Romantic Comedy series with a film that really puts that genre to the test — 2002's About a Boy, directed by Chris and Paul Weitz. Is it a RomCom? Is it a comedy drama? Or a RomComDram? It's hard to say, but it is a great film that is full of honesty, heart, and human connection. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about this great film. We discuss Hugh Grant and Nicholas Hoult as the two leads (who both also co-narrate the film), what they bring to the film, and why they both make everything in the film feel so believable. We talk about the amazing Toni Collette who grounds the film with an amazing character turn that creates a great counterpoint to the growing friendship between Grant's and Hoult's characters. We discuss the Weitz brothers and the interesting paths their directing has taken them. We chat about the cinematography, costume designs, and production design and what they do for the world of this film. And we discuss the great ear worms in this movie. It's a great film, whatever it's genre, and we love talking about it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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(500) Days of Summer • The Next Reel Oct 03, 2013

It's October, which must mean it's time for another month of horror, right? Wrong! This month, we're turning the tables on all the Freddies and Jasons and Michaels and will be spending the month talking about romantic comedies! Our first stop? Marc Webb's feature film debut, 2009's "(500) Days of Summer." Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we discuss one of our favorite romantic comedies out there. We talk about what a romantic comedy is and what makes this film fit it, as well as what's different about it. We discuss the nature of love and memory, how this film honestly captures emotions around relationships, and how those emotions tie into love and memory. We look at the touching and truthful performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel and what they bring to the table, along with things that may not work as well. And we talk about the cinematography, the production design, the costume design, and the music and how key they all are to making this film stand out as a rom-com masterpiece. It really is a wonderful film and we're happy to be starting our rom-com month with it. Tune in!
* * *
Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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The Blob • The Next Reel Sep 26, 2013

It was the genius mind of producer Jack Harris who saw potential in combining two popular 50s genres — the horror sci-fi films and the teen delinquency films — when he got Irvin Yeaworth to direct 1958s "The Blob." There were plenty of low budget midnight movies being churned out then, but somehow this one ended up hitting the winning streak by getting picked up by Paramount and distributed across the country, making a name for its star, Steve McQueen, in the process. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about this 50s sci-fi/horror/teen drive-in classic this week. We talk about the nature of looking at films like this and how they work — or don't work — through modern eyes. We chat about how McQueen broke onto the scene with this film and ended up having a love/hate relationship with it the rest of his life. We discuss the nature of the teen films coming out in the 50s and how this film tapped into that zeitgeist. And we chat about the production and success of this film, coming from filmmakers just trying to make a movie. It's not one of our favorites but we still have a great time talking about it. Check it out!
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The World's End • The Next Reel Sep 19, 2013

Hellllllloooooooooo! Welcome to episode #100 of The Next Reel, everybody! And what a better way to celebrate than to finish the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy series that we started in March 2012 with our episode on Edgar Wright's latest film, "The World's End." Another genre film filled with poignant character moments, riotous moments of comedy, fantastic writing from beginning to end, and solid and assured direction, Wright finishes off this pseudo trilogy (that he started with "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz") with a film that actually does help tie all three films together thematically while still remaining its own complete film. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we delve into the frothy tale of five guys revisiting (or to some extent reliving) their past as they try to finish a 12-pub crawl they never completed before only to have it rudely interrupted by alien invaders. We talk about Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and what these gents have brought to the table in each of these 3 films, and why this film is such a treat to see because of the reversal in character types for Pegg and Frost. We discuss the rest of the actors, both familiar from Wright's other work and new to it, and what they bring to the table. We chat about the great stunt choreography and how that pairs with the fantastic cinematography to create some of the most invigorating fight scenes in a while. We go into the themes of the film and how the nature of nostalgia can affect a person negatively and how we, as people, need to keep moving forward. And we quote some of the great lines from the fantastic script by Wright and Pegg. It's a blast of a film, even if the tonal shift and disagreeable protagonist may keep some people from fully falling for it as we both clearly did. We have a great time talking about it (and thoroughly spoiling it) so go watch it and tune in!
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No Country for Old Men • The Next Reel Sep 12, 2013

At the 2008 Oscars, Joel and Ethan Coen pulled off what only 4 other directors had done before them, walking away that night with 3 wins. The film, of course, is "No Country for Old Men," and they won for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Directors, and Best Picture. Javier Bardem won Best Supporting Actor for his chilling portrayal of hitman Anton Chigurh, which was well-deserved, and the film was nominated for 4 other Oscars. At the time, it was their highest grossing film, and put right at the top of many critics' best film of the year lists. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we conclude our Dramas of the Brothers Coen series with a conversation about "No Country for Old Men." We discuss the nature of the landscape in this film, and how it not only fits in the context of this particular story but also how it fits in the look of the Coens' films we've included in this series. We talk about the performances from top to bottom, starting with Tommy Lee Jones, Bardem, Josh Brolin and Kelly Macdonald and going all the way through Stephen Root and Barry Corbin (as well as the amazing faces the Coens consistently cast in small roles), and how they each bring 100% authenticity to this film. We chat about the differences between the book and the film and how the Coens really treated Cormac McCarthy right with this adaptation. And we discuss the trust the storytellers put in the audience by allowing key moments to happen off-screen and by ending the film where they do. It's a master-class in filmmaking from a pair of the most interesting directors working today. Watch the film and tune in!
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Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!
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Fargo • The Next Reel Sep 05, 2013

Joel and Ethan Coen may have won big at Cannes with "Barton Fink," but it wasn't until 1996's "Fargo" was nominated for 7 Oscars including Best Picture, and won Best Actress (Frances McDormand) and Best Original Screenplay for the Coens that Hollywood really started believing that these guys could deliver the goods. (They did fail miserably in Hollywood with their previous effort, "The Hudsucker Proxy," after all.) Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Drama by the Brothers Coen series with our discussion on this homespun tale of murder, "Fargo." We talk about the nature of the setting — North Dakota and Minnesota — and what that brings to the film. We chat about the brilliant talent — from William H. Macy to McDormand to Steve Buscemi to Peter Stormare to Harve Presnell — and what each of them brings to the table. We discuss the nature of protagonist vs. antagonist in a film structured like this and what reversals do to the storytelling process. We delve into the beautiful cinematography of Roger Deakins and explore what he was doing with the camera in this film. And we go back and forth on the Mike Yanagita character as far as what it means in the context of this film. We love this film and talk at length about it. Tune in!
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Barton Fink • The Next Reel Aug 30, 2013

"Barton Fink" was the crowning glory of the Cannes Film Festival when it premiered there in May 1991. Critics heaped their praises on it. But it never really connected with the audience and hence was a box office failure. Luckily, Joel and Ethan Coen made a film that is worth rewatching and discussing, even if it's not completely decipherable. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Drama of the Brothers Coen series and delve into the murky, oozing depths of "Barton Fink." We talk about the pervasive symbolism throughout the film and ask what it means, if it's too much, if it's too on the nose, or if it's worth it. We chat about the brilliant sound design and beautiful cinematography, and how those elements of the senses play such key roles in this film. We chat about the nature of honesty and ethics and what this film has to say about them. And we discuss the fascinating character portrayals, most notably Barton played by John Turturro and Charlie played by John Goodman. It's not an easy film to understand but it's clear that it's a film made by deliberate filmmakers who know what they're doing. We have a great conversation about this film, and hopefully our conversation is easier to understand than the film itself. Tune in!
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Miller's Crossing • The Next Reel Aug 22, 2013

For their third film, the Coen brothers decided to again make something completely different from what they've done before. With "Miller's Crossing," they made a gangster picture that honors conventions of the genre while also twisting those conventions, just as they did with "Blood Simple." And it worked for some people while not for others (and lead to a big bomb at the box office). Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — on this week's episode of The Next Reel as we continue our Drama by the Brothers Coen series with 1990s "Miller's Crossing." We talk about what we think of the film and why it's largely been a film that's been hard for both of us to get into over the years, yet one in which we finally connected this time — and liked quite a bit. We discuss the amazing performances from top to bottom in this film and what all of the wonderful actors — Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, Albert Finney, Jon Polito, John Turturro, J.E. Freeman, etc. — bring to the table. We chat about the role of the hat worn and lost time and time again by Tommy, Byrne's character, and what we think the Coens are saying with it. And we chat about some of the amazing production crew — Barry Sonnenfeld and Carter Burwell in particular — and why they stand out. (And we completely left out the amazing production designer Dennis Gassner and costume designer Richard Hornung, along with countless others — stellar work, all of you!). It's a tough film to follow but we both really got a lot out of it this time and had a great time talking about it. Check it out and tune in!
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Blood Simple • The Next Reel Aug 15, 2013

"Blood Simple," released in film festivals in 1984 and theatrically in 1985, found as many detractors as it did fans initially, but no one can argue that it was all that the filmmaking duo of Joel and Ethan Coen needed to break onto the scene as fresh, quirky and sometimes violent voices in the cinema world. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — on this week's episode of The Next Reel as we start our Drama by the Brothers Coen series. We talk about how much we love this neo-noir crime thriller and why, and debate whether it's just a film noir or really a neo-noir (and if that really means anything anyway). We chat about the performances — Dan Hedaya, Frances McDormand, John Getz and the unforgettable M. Emmett Walsh — and why they each stand out for us in different ways (most notably Walsh in his horrible yellow jacket). We discuss how this film introduced the world largely to the cinematographic eye of Barry Sonnenfeld, what it did for the film, what worked, what didn't, and why Sonnenfeld shouldn't have started directing. We chat about the nature of the story — complex and simple all at the same time in a story that honors genre conventions as much as it manipulates and breaks them. And we talk about the Coen brothers in general and why we feel there is such a pervasive split between cinema-goers as to their opinions of the Coens' films. It's a fun, bloody, dark film that just gets better with age. Check it out and listen in!
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It Happened One Night • The Next Reel Aug 09, 2013

In 1934, a little film studio released what they thought would be a minor but fun little film called "It Happened One Night." That film went on to earn 5 Oscar nominations — Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay — and win all 5. It also was an audience favorite and turned that little studio — Columbia Pictures — into one of the major players. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about Frank Capra's wonderful film "It Happened One Night." We talk about how this film, which is generally considered to be the first screwball comedy, was huge in the careers of its two stars, Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, even if they didn't think it was a picture worth being in when they were making it. We discuss the supporting players and how Capra often filled his films with great ones — and how some in this film became the basis for various Looney Tune characters. We chat about the great work of Frank Capra but how he really was a director making films for a specific time. And we look at several specific scenes and talk about why they work so well, given the genre, the actors, and the script. It's a wonderful, fun and breezy film. Tune in!
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The Night of the Hunter • The Next Reel Aug 01, 2013

Charles Laughton is most known for his larger than life performances in films from the 30s through the 60s, but he did have one chance to direct which came in the form of 1955's The Night of the Hunter, a film he also co-wrote with James Agee based on the novel by Davis Grubb. Unfortunately for him, the film was a huge flop. Luckily for us, this quirky anomaly of a film has not only survived but has thrived — it is now critically praised and generally considered to be a classic film. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Couples on the Run series with Laughton's The Night of the Hunter. We talk about our impressions of the film, why it works, and what are some of its potential stumbling blocks in connecting with audiences. We chat about the amazing performances, from Billy Chapin and Sally Jane Bruce playing the two kids on the run to Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish, the three adults heading up the film. We discuss the look of the film and how it contributes to the unique vibe Laughton was going for, whether by using silent film techniques or film noir lighting styles. And we talk about the overall tone of the film — from horror to noir to comedy to fairy tale etc. — and how that helps give the film a unique tone not often seen in films. It truly is a wholly unique and special film, and we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
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Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid • The Next Reel Jul 25, 2013

William Goldman is often credited as the first screenwriter to sell a spec script, meaning he wrote a script without getting paid for it then sold it once he was done with it. It's common in the novel-writing world, but in the late 60s, it was unheard of in the film business. That script was "The Sundance Kid & Butch Cassidy," which legendary producer Richard D. Zanuck, who was running 20th Century Fox at the time, optioned for twice what they were allowed to, knowing it was going to be big. And he was right. We continue our Couples On the Run series with George Roy Hill's 1969 western, "Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid." Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we discuss the place this film has in the western genre and why it remains a classic to this day. We talk about the wonderful performances by Paul Newman and Robert Redford, and how Hill had to fight to get Redford on at the time because he was relatively unknown. We chat about Hill and Conrad Hall, the cinematographer, and what they both brought to the table. And we discuss Burt Bacharach's Oscar-winning turn for his score and song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," and how well these anachronistic bits worked for us this go around. It's top-notch filmmaking and we love this movie. Tune in!
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True Romance • The Next Reel Jul 18, 2013

Quentin Tarantino's first script that he wrote turned out to be one he couldn't get made himself. Lucky for us (or unlucky as some Tarantino fans feel), he managed to get "True Romance" into the hands of Tony Scott. Tony gave it a linear structure and a happy ending and, in our estimation, created a magical fairy tale of a film. We're continuing our "Couples on the Run" series and are thrilled with this week's edition of "True Romance" to the list. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about the origins of the script and its road to becoming the film that it is. We chat about not only the incredible performances throughout the film, but also the amazing, star-studded line-up of actors playing the parts and how much we enjoy them all. We discuss the nature of the violence in the film and how it created quite a stir politically at the time though how, by today's standards, it's not too harsh. And we hit on the crazy Tarantino Universe theory and how this film ties into it. We love this film and have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
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Midnight Run • The Next Reel Jul 11, 2013

Infrequent filmmaker Martin Brest may have directed the box office bombs Gigli and Meet Joe Black, but he also directed the huge critical and commercial successes Beverly Hills Cop and Scent of a Woman. Somewhere in the middle of these films, he made a fantastic action-comedy about a bounty hunter taking a criminal across country to collect his reward. That's right, we're talking about Midnight Run, a part of our Couples on the Run series. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — on this week's episode of The Next Reel as we discuss the actors in this film, particularly Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Joe Pantoliano, Yaphet Kotto and Dennis Farina, and how they work for us now 25 years after the film first came out — some better than others. We chat about the nature of the action-comedy film, particularly those from the 80s, and how the comedy has fared as time's worn on. We talk about the great script by George Gallo and how it stands out in its genre because of the honestly written characters that are developed well over the course of the story. And we talk about the crew who worked on it with Brest, notably Danny Elfman turning in one of his early great scores that definitely veers away from the wacky. It's a film that holds up well — mostly — and one we have a great time talking about. Listen in!
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The Killing • The Next Reel Jul 04, 2013

Stanley Kubrick's 3rd film, "The Killing," was a box office bomb due to a poor release plan from United Artists and virtually no marketing. Luckily, the film was critically praised and has grown in stature since its release in 1956. It's a film noir about a race track heist gone wrong with the fantastic Sterling Hayden leading the charge, and the last film in our Heist series. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish this series with Kubrick's early classic. We talk about the story and how revolutionary it was at the time to tell a story that was told out of chronological sequence. We discuss the actors and the roles they play in this great film, particularly Sterling Hayden, Elisha Cook Jr. and Marie Windsor. We talk about the look of the film yet how Kubrick and his cinematographer, Lucien Ballard, were at odds throughout production. And we chat about why this film was so ahead of its time and why it's largely considered an important classic that's worth discussing. It's a great finish to our current Heist series. Listen in!
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Inside Man • The Next Reel Jun 27, 2013

After director Ron Howard dropped out from "Inside Man" to instead re-team with Russell Crowe on "Cinderella Man," producer Brian Grazer ended up turning to an unlikely director to make this fun heist film — Spike Lee. Give his largest budget and a script that's more of a genre film than anything else Lee's done before, he managed to create a wild heist film with a great twist ending. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Heist series this week with Lee's 2006 film "Inside Man." We talk about what works in this film and what doesn't work and how this film fits within Lee's body of work. We chat about the pacing of the film and how some elements that are problems for Andy aren't for Pete, but how Pete's problem areas aren't problems for Andy. We chat about several key members of the crew and what they're bringing to the table. And we chat about the perpetual problem Lee seems to have with female characters in his films. We still enjoy the film even with its issues, and we have a great time talking about it this week. Tune in!
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The Town • The Next Reel Jun 20, 2013

Ben Affleck made a smart move when he decided to start directing films. He had made some bad career moves as an actor and was fizzling out. With his 2007 directorial debut "Gone Baby Gone," he proved he had chops — and that they weren't in acting. He's a great director. With "The Town," his 2010 heist film, he again shows he knows how to write and direct a great film, and can still act as long as he's in the right material. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Heist Series with Affleck's great bank robber film. We talk about the amazing talent all through the film — Affleck, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall, Blake Lively, Jon Hamm, Chris Cooper, Pete Postlethwaite, and more — and how they bring this world of robbers to gritty life. We chat about the changes the film went through from the original theatrical cut to the extended cut to the extended cut with alternate ending and how the alterations affected the story. We chat about the nature of the script, adapted from Chuck Hogan's novel "Prince of Thieves," and why it works so effectively even if it is formulaic. And we run through the wide array of reviews — from hating it to loving it — and deliberate on why we think the opinions vary so much with this film. It's a great and fun entry into our Heist Series and one well worth talking about. Listen in!
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The Bank Job • The Next Reel Jun 13, 2013

There's something interesting about heist films because, generally, you're rooting for criminals to pull off a heist and criminals usually aren't who you'd expect to be your protagonist. But watching Roger Donaldson's 2008 heist film The Bank Job, based on the real Baker Street Robbery in London 1971, you can't help but root for Terry Leather and his imperfect gang as they not only rob the bank and pull off one of the biggest scores in London's history, but actually get away with it too. Maybe that's because the people after them are all much worse, and maybe that's because you can't help but side with Terry played wonderfully by Jason Statham. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we start our Heist series with this great movie. We discuss the story and how it fits within the true story — and what truth means in a film based on a true story anyway. We chat about the great cast and the complex script and how it all ties together perfectly. We touch on Donaldson and his career, looking at him as an effective filmmaker. And we discuss the look of the film — the cinematography, the costume design, and the production design — and how it plays an important role in bringing the swinging world of 1971 London to life. It's a fun if raunchy film to start off our series. Tune in!
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Scoop • The Next Reel Jun 06, 2013

Woody Allen has made some great films and he's made some stinkers, but he is a man who consistently cranks films out year after year. In 2006, his film "Scoop" happened to have a stage magician in it and, because of that, we felt it was important to include in our series about films made about stage magic in 2006. But paired with the other two films in this series — "The Prestige" and "The Illusionist," this film falls flat. But that doesn't mean we don't have a great time talking about it. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we wrap up our magic series with one of Allen's worst films, "Scoop." We talk about the magic, the murder mystery and the comedy in this film and how none of them particularly stand out. We discuss the actors — Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Ian McShane and Woody Allen in particular — and what, if anything, they bring to their roles. And we chat about what works in Allen's films and why this film feels so slight and forgettable. It's not one of our favorites, but we still have a great conversation about it. Tune in!
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The Illusionist • The Next Reel May 30, 2013

2006 was quite the year for movies about stage magicians, and as our series continues, we've decided to focus solely on the 3 films dealing with prestidigitation that came out that year. Neil Burger's The Illusionist came out a few months before Christopher Nolan's The Prestige, but it dealt with an entirely different story. True, they both take place in the world of magicians, but while Nolan's film dealt with a strong professional rivalry, Burger's dealt with an unrequited love and the fight the two lovers struggle through to be together. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about The Illusionist and the magical year of 2006. We chat about the performances in the film — Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewell, and Jessica Biel primarily — and how they work for us. We chat about the nature of the ending of the film and how the nature of the end works — or doesn't. We discuss the actual magic tricks performed in the film, all based on actual tricks of the period, and how the CG embellishments actually may detract from the power of the story. And we talk about the cinematography and score and the strengths and weaknesses in them. We have a great time revisiting this film. Tune in!
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The Prestige • The Next Reel May 23, 2013

Right after the amazing success of Batman Begins and right before the brilliance of The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan switched gears completely and made a fascinating period piece about two rival magicians duking it out to be the best. The Prestige wasn't the most popular film of his but certainly garnered its share of positive acclaim and audience draw. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin the next series on The Next Reel: this time, a series about films that deal with magicians. We start with what we feel is an absolutely amazing film — The Prestige. We talk about the nature of magic tricks as defined within the film — having the pledge, the turn and the prestige — and how the film itself is structured as if it's a magic trick. We discuss the fascinating characters portrayed by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale and the nature of what their characters need to do in order to become the best. We chat about the nature of a film structured in a nonlinear style like this one is, how that ties into the original source novel by Christopher Priest, the nature of the unreliable narrator, and why it all works so well in a film about magicians. And we contemplate the nature of rivalry and how the film not only emphasizes that aspect of competition in everything done by the two principal characters but also by the real-life scientific duelists Thomas Edison and Nicola Tesla. The Prestige is a fascinating film that is meticulously structured in a deliberate way so as to create its own magic trick and get the audience every time. We find it extremely effective and have a great time watching it as well as talking about it this week. Check it out!
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Marty • The Next Reel May 16, 2013

After writing his teleplay for "Marty," it wasn't long before Hollywood asked Paddy Chayefsky to adapt his script for a feature film. And it's a good thing he did too — he won his first Oscar for his screenplay. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish our Paddy Chayefsky series with Delbert Mann's 1955 film "Marty." We talk about our feelings for the film and how, while the story of a man with image issues who finally finds love is touching, it still feels very slight. We discuss the actor who plays Marty — the wonderful Ernest "the beef" Borgnine — how he's made his mark indelibly in our heads, and whether this role felt like the right one for him or not. We chat about the other actors nominated for supporting roles — Betsy Blair and Joe Mantell — and how their roles fit within the context of this story about Marty (and whether they deserved Oscar nominations for their performances). And we discuss Chayefsky's interesting writing, not just here but in all 3 films, and look at what themes he's repeating and why. It's a good film that won Best Picture in 1955 and, while perhaps not as relevant today, is still an interesting film to catch up with. We have a great time talking about it, so tune in!
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The Hospital • The Next Reel May 09, 2013

For his original script "The Hospital," Paddy Chayefsky won his second Oscar and created an enemy for himself — the US's medical institution which he was satirizing. But his script, while genius in many ways, veers off course into several strange directions that take the sting out of the satire. And that's, perhaps, why the film isn't talked about much these days. But it's still worth watching and talking about! Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we happily talk about this wild Chayefsky ride and continue our series on this great American writer. We talk about the brilliance of Chayefsky's satire in the script and how it works so well, and contrast that with several elements that don't seem to fit the film completely and make for a less satisfying experience. We discuss the great performances of George C. Scott, Diana Rigg, Barnard Hughes, Richard Dysart and others, and how those wonderful Chayefsky monologues really give these great actors something to chew on. And we talk about the reason Chayefsky wrote this film and how the reaction to this film may have been a partial cause of his death. It's a fascinating film to watch that has moments of brilliance paired with moments of absurdity, resulting in a film that's great to look back at and study, if not one to watch on a regular basis. We certainly have a great time discussing this film. Tune in!
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Network • The Next Reel May 02, 2013

It's easy for us on this show to talk at great length about Sidney Lumet's 1976 film "Network" as it's one of our all-time favorites. Both a scathing indictment of the TV industry and a reality check for people's feelings about the times in which they were living, this film made an indelible mark on the world of film and created one of the most iconic movie lines ever. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we not only finish our series of films from 1976 but also begin a short but deliciously sweet series of films written by the amazing Paddy Chayefsky. We talk about the prescience with which Chayefsky seemed to have about the modern state of television and our media-infused culture when he wrote this film in the mid-70s, and what he's really saying with the film. We discuss the brilliant directing by Lumet and how he and his director of photography, Owen Roizman, chose to corrupt the look of the film as it progresses, taking us from a relatively normal world to one that is much more menacing. We go through the amazing cast — Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall, Ned Beatty, Beatrice Straight, and more — and talk about how pretty much every one of them is given their time to shine in this amazing script. And we look back on 1976's Oscars and pick our own winners if we were the only two people voting. We have a great time talking about this amazing film. If you haven't seen it, go watch it IMMEDIATELY, then come back and tune in!
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The Outlaw Josey Wales • The Next Reel Apr 25, 2013

For Clint Eastwood's fifth directorial effort, he returned to one of the genres he's most well-known for — the western — and created an absolute classic, The Outlaw Josey Wales. A western affected both by the revisionist movement within the genre that had been growing for nearly a decade as well as by the overall darker, more realistic tones exhibited in 70s cinema, this film took a lot of old elements from classic westerns and turned them on their heads: the Union soldiers are the bad guys, the outlaw is the hero, the Native Americans are not just real characters but actually integral to the story, and the final shootout takes an unexpected — and ultimately very gratifying — turn. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about one of our favorite westerns and continue our series of films from 1976. We discuss classic western elements and look at how they shift within this sub-genre, the revisionist western, as well as discuss what this sub-genre is really all about. We talk about the wonderful collection of actors, both leads as well as unforgettable supporting roles filled by amazing character actors, and how they all lend a sense of reality to the film (even if their scruffiness can make them hard to distinguish from one another). We chat about the troubles with the making of this film and why Philip Kaufman was fired as director after a week of production. And we discuss Forrest Carter, the author of the original novel "Gone to Texas" on which the film was based, his history as a KKK leader and segregationist supporter, and how that affects our views on the film. It's a glorious western that is an interesting precursor to Eastwood's 1992 masterpiece Unforgiven, and we have a great time discussing it. Listen in!
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Carrie • The Next Reel Apr 18, 2013

Brian De Palma had been making feature films for almost a decade before he made Carrie in 1976, but it was this film that became his first blockbuster and really pushed him to the next level. By making an adaptation of the first book by an up-and-coming writer at the time, Stephen King, and turning it into a very effective and frightening psychological horror film, De Palma created a classic that is nearly as effective (if a bit dated) as it was when first released. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our 1976 series with Carrie. We talk about De Palma and his filmmaking style, particularly how he uses the film tools at his disposal to enhance the genre in which he's working as well as to explore the boundaries of what he can with the medium. We chat about the wonderful actors, from Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie all the way to down to Edie McClurg, and how wonderful they all are, if not quite frightening in how they represent roles in our collective bad high school memories. We discuss the nature of the filmmaking style, balancing the worlds of innocence with that of horror — good versus evil. And we talk about some of De Palma's regular collaborators and what they bring to the table, from composer Pino Donaggio to art director Jack Fisk. It's a great horror film that has stood the test of time and we have a great time chatting about it. Tune in!
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Taxi Driver • The Next Reel Apr 11, 2013

We're continuing our 1976 series with Martin Scorsese's gritty film Taxi Driver, one of his greatest and arguably most talked about films. Based on a screenplay by Paul Schrader, who set out to write about loneliness, Scorsese's film burst onto the scene with Travis Bickle as the antihero in a gritty, grimy New York full of sex and violence, very much establishing Scorsese as a filmmaking force to be reckoned with. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we discuss the fascinating filmmaking techniques Scorsese employs in making this film, taking elements of experimental filmmaking and mixing it with a vibrant and alive camera to create an amazingly visual film. We talk about the performances — Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Albert Brooks, Cybill Shepard, Harvey Keitel — and what the actors bring to the table. We chat about the nature of a film essentially about a psychopath and how that affects its audience, and in particular Pete who now hates himself for not liking the movie (despite still appreciating it). And we expound on the majestic score by Bernard Herrmann — his last — and what it brings to the film, even if Andy can't remember his name. We have a great conversation about the film with just the right amount of disagreements thrown in for your listening pleasure. Tune in!
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Marathon Man • The Next Reel Apr 04, 2013

In 1976, John Schlesinger made a film adaptation of William Goldman's novel Marathon Man, and in the process, made everyone afraid to go back to their dentist. There are few things more horrifying than watching Laurence Olivier's Nazi dentist drill into Dustin Hoffman's teeth (the healthy ones because it'll hurt more, naturally). Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we start a new series digging into great films from 1976, a great year for cinema, and we start it off with Marathon Man. We chat about the tonal shift in films in the 70s (and mention the great documentary about 70s films, A Decade Under the Influence), and how that change affects this thriller. We discuss the nature of a world in crisis, where this film's world is after WWII, the psychology of people as passive witnesses, and the nature of paranoia itself and how all of these themes play important parts in the film. We chat about Hoffman, Roy Scheider (our favorite 70s actor), Olivier, Bill Devane, and Marthe Keller in the film, and examine what they bring to their performances, particularly in this grittier period of filmmaking. And we talk about the famous torture scene and how it holds up by today's standards. We're thrilled to be talking about 1976 and have a great conversation about this film. Check it out and tune in!
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Gattaca • The Next Reel Mar 28, 2013

We end our Original Science Fiction series with Andrew Niccol's visionary 1997 film set not too far in the future, Gattaca. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we delve into not just what makes this film great and unique, but also what ties the four films from this series — Dark City, Sunshine, Moon, and Gattaca — together. We chat about the nature of science fiction films set close to where we are now and how those stories use the tools of science fiction to explore the dangers of where we could end up. We discuss the concepts of genetic manipulation as it is in the world of the film, what actual geneticists think of it, and what the filmmakers are trying to say. We talk about the great performances in the film, from Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke to Alan Arkin to Xander Berkeley, and how they're all bringing great stuff to the table. We get into the look of the film, from the stunning production design and costume design to the marvelous cinematography, and how all of these elements came together to create an original future that certainly feels believable. And we look at the nature of being an original science fiction film and what that actually means — not just how it fits within the genre, but how those films tend to fare at the box office. It's a great film that poses interesting questions and certainly is worth watching and discussing. Tune in!
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Moon • The Next Reel Mar 21, 2013

Our original science fiction series continues with Duncan Jones' fascinating film debut from 2009, Moon. Made for a low budget, this entry into the science fiction genre showed that you didn't need a $100 million budget to tell a science fiction story that makes you think while also being a great story. Sure, it has its problems, but it's easy to forgive when it's as fascinating to watch as Moon is. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about it on this week's episode of The Next Reel. We talk about the low budget production of this film and what they were able to pull off to create a compelling piece of sci-fi. We chat about Sam Rockwell playing opposite Sam Rockwell, how well it works technologically-wise, how well he performs it, and what it means to the story. We delve into what the filmmakers are saying with this film and how well the message is pulled off. And we chat about the effects, both digital and physical, and how well they're blended. It's a great film, even with the issues that come up in Act 3, and one well worth talking about. Check it out!
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Sunshine • The Next Reel Mar 14, 2013

We continue our Original Science Fiction series with Danny Boyle's 2007 film, Sunshine. It's a film that stands out as a highlight in sci-fi films for its magnificent vision depicting mankind needing to travel to the sun to reignite it, but one that most people seemed to never hear about or avoid as it was a big box office disappointment. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — on this week's episode of The Next Reel as we continue our series with this film. We talk about the fascinating discussions and explorations that arise out of this film regarding the nature of man vs. God as well as science vs. nature. We hash on the end of the film and why Andy has a problem with Danny Boyle's directing choices. We discuss the brilliant special effects and how they help the film ground us in the reality of this world and journey. And we throw in some scientific facts about the sun for good measure. It's an episode full of information, debate and fun. We have a great time talking about Sunshine. Watch the film and join us!
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Dark City • The Next Reel Mar 07, 2013

With all the franchises, spin-offs and films based on other mediums these days, it seems rare to find original sci-fi films. That inspired us to do a series of original sci-fi films, and we're starting with one of our favorites. In 1998, Alex Proyas created a fantastic and wholly unique science fiction film, Dark City, that unfortunately bombed at the box office but has since proven to be a cult hit in the after markets. This film, a neo-noir sci-fi with a very mysterious twist, follows a man with amnesia as he tries to uncover who he is, why nothing seems to make sense, and why he woke up at the scene of a murder. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — this week on The Next Reel as we begin our Original Sci-Fi series with Proyas' Dark City. We talk about the nature of the world, a place of puppets and puppetmasters, and what happens when a puppet realizes the world it's in. We discuss the great cast — Rufus Sewell, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, and Keifer Sutherland in particular — and what they bring to the table. We chat about the stunning production design and effects, as well as the shadowy noir cinematography style. And we cover the script and how it seemed to come out at a time when many stories with this similar theme were being released, like The Matrix and The Thirteenth Floor. It's a great sci-fi and we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
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The Sandlot • The Next Reel Feb 28, 2013

There's something about memories of childhood and baseball that seem to go hand in hand. Perhaps it's the tradition of baseball — it feels as tied into good ol' Americana as much as fireworks on the Fourth of July or hot apple pie, things that can certainly define childhood memories. Perhaps it's just that it was one of those things you did as a kid that helped shape who you would become. Regardless, David Mickey Evans tapped into this connection for 1993's The Sandlot, his directorial debut, and ended up creating a cult favorite that will stand the test of time because of it. This week, join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we wrap up our current baseball series with this fantastic movie that tells a simple childhood baseball story yet seduces the audience into reconnecting with their own childhood. We talk about the nature of this story and how its episodic coming-of-age nature connects it to other great films like A Christmas Story and Stand By Me. We chat about the great cast and how these Sandlot kids really work well together as a group of friends. We discuss how the film really does seduce you, as Roger Ebert said in his review, "with its memories of what really matters when you are 12." And we hit on the interesting and opposing views of baseball that this film and our last film in this series, Moneyball, take. It's a very easy and enjoyable film to watch and we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
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Moneyball • The Next Reel Feb 21, 2013

It's spring training season again, and we're back to discuss more baseball movies! In 2011, Bennett Miller directed Moneyball, a fascinating film — one of our favorites — that details the 2002 season of the Oakland A's, and particularly how General Manager Billy Beane decided to use a new statistical approach nicknamed moneyball to buy players, bucking all tradition within the game. The film was a critical and commercial success, and received numerous awards and nominations including 6 Oscar nominations. This week, join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin this year's baseball series with this amazing film. We talk about the brilliant performances, from the key performances by Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill to the supporting performances by Robin Wright and Spike Jonze (and even Derrin Ebert!). We discuss Pete's fascination with the nature of moneyball and the use of statistics to essentially better control the destiny for a team, and how that balances with the unpredictable magic that happens in the game. We chat about the amazing Wally Pfister and what he brings to the table with his cinematography. And we also chat about the struggle the screenwriters had in getting the script adapted from Michael Lewis' nonfiction book, why the film took so long to get made and who had been involved at various points in getting it made. It's a deeply engrossing film that we love, and we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
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Prizzi's Honor • The Next Reel Feb 14, 2013

It's Valentine's Day, and what better way to end our current John Huston series than with his 1985 romantic mafia comedy, Prizzi's Honor? Huston was struggling with his health in the 80s but still a vibrant and essential director when he made this film that garnered 8 Oscar nominations. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we celebrate love and death in this quirky film. We chat about what works and what doesn't with the performances in the film, particularly Jack Nicholson's and Anjelica Huston's, and how essential they are in a film with such a variety of characters like this film has. We discuss what Huston was trying to say with the film and how it fits into his body of work. We talk about the amazing crew and what they bring to the table as well as the kudos they received for their work. And we chat about the nature of the story — a mafia comedy — and what Richard Condon, who wrote the novel on which it was based, was saying with the story. It's a fun film and we have a great time talking about it. Check it out!
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The Asphalt Jungle • The Next Reel Feb 07, 2013

When people list off caper films, it's a long list that comes to mind — Ocean's Eleven, Rififi, The Killing, The Ladykillers, Kelly's Heroes, The Italian Job, The Usual Suspects, even more recently Inception — but the film that really kicked it all off was 1950s masterpiece, The Asphalt Jungle. John Huston co-adapted W. R. Burnett's novel and turned it into one of his greatest directorial achievements, a story of a group of criminals working hard to pull off the perfect heist only to have everything fall apart in the end. It's not only the start of the caper subgenre, but also a master work of character development and taut filmmaking.
Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our John Huston series with this fantastic film. We talk about how the film looks at the criminal's heist and how that balances with the character development. We chat about the amazing actors who bring the film to life — from Sterling Hayden to Marilyn Monroe. We discuss where the film fits in MGM's body of work and how it felt different for what the studio was churning out at the time. And we revel in the gorgeous black-and-white cinematography shot by Harold Rosson that gives the film a haunting, gray film noir vibe and helps define this jungle — this city beneath the city.
It's a film that quickly shot up our list of favorite films upon rewatching and is definitely worth talking about. Tune in!
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Key Largo • The Next Reel Jan 31, 2013

In 1948, John Huston managed to crank out two of his most well-known films — The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, a masterpiece that received many accolades but took a while to warm up at the box office, and Key Largo, a noirish crime film that takes place during a hurricane on the Florida Keys which did great at the box office but didn't create a big splash in the awards circles. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — this week as we continue our series about John Huston with Key Largo, a film that works in many aspects for us but doesn't work in others. We talk about the actors and what we think of their performances — Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson, Lionel Barrymore, even an appearance of Jay Silverheels who most famously played Tonto on "The Lone Ranger." And we definitely don't forget to chat about Claire Trevor, a fantastic actress who won the film's only Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, along with why we felt she won that award. We discuss the origins of the script, how Huston and his co-writer Richard Brooks reworked the original material to create something with more political subtext, and how that works for us. And we talk about the film's relationships w/both the film noir genre as well as the crime genre, and how the cinematography really works advantageously to create vibes from these genres. It's a film that, while we like it, doesn't hold up as well this go around. That being said, it's still worth watching if you haven't seen it before, and it's fun to talk about. Listen in!
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The Treasure of the Sierra Madre • The Next Reel Jan 24, 2013

It's a classic (and oft misquoted) line from one of the greatest films of all time, John Huston's classic film from 1948, "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre." This week, join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we delve into this fascinating and tragic film, once considered a difficult film that received more praise from critics than it did from audiences at the time even though now it's considered one of the best films ever made. We talk about the fantastic trio of actors heading up the film—Humphrey Bogart, Tim Holt and the unforgettable Walter Huston—John's dad—who rightfully won an Oscar for his performance. We dig into the troubles of location shooting and why it was such a challenge back then. We talk about the nature of man and what the story is saying about what happens to men when large quantities of money (or in this case gold) come into play. And we chat about the mysterious B. Traven, author of the original novel, and the strange theories about who he really is. It's an absolutely fantastic film and one well worth talking about. Join us and listen in!
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The Maltese Falcon • The Next Reel Jan 17, 2013

That's right, ladies and gentlemen, this week join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about one of the most unforgettable films in the history of cinema, "The Maltese Falcon." As a part of our periodic and ongoing John Huston series, this is a film we've looked forward to talking about for a great long while. We have a wonderful time discussing the importance of this film.
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Zero Dark Thirty • The Next Reel Jan 11, 2013

Divisive before it even opened, Kathryn Bigelow's film Zero Dark Thirty depicts, in a very procedural way, the steps it took to find Bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks. While you can argue whether Bigelow should have received a Best Director nomination in the recent Oscar announcement, it's clear that she's a filmmaker at the top of her form making a film that tracks this decade-long manhunt through the eyes of one dedicated woman, and what it does to her in the process. It's a fascinating film and one that certainly is worthy all of the nominations and accolades it's currently receiving. Join us on this week's episode of The Next Reel as we — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — close out our series on Bigelow with this amazing film. We talk about the context of this film in relation to what really did — or did not — happen, and how that affects audience members' interpretations of the events as depicted. We discuss the amazing performance by Jessica Chastain and the haunting portrait of Maya, the CIA operative behind this mission, as well as the rest of the crew the Bigelow brings on board, including screenwriter/producer Mark Boal, her partner on The Hurt Locker. We delve into the issue of torture as depicted in the film, how it's created a controversy, and what our opinions are on it. And we chat about the depiction and reality of the clinical (mostly) insertion of Seal Team Six into the compound, how well it was put together yet how surprised we were by how loud they were. It's a film that truly deserves its mark as one of the top films of the year and another definite high mark for Bigelow. We have a great time talking about it (and spoiling it heavily). Watch the movie then listen in!
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The Hurt Locker • The Next Reel Jan 03, 2013

Kathryn Bigelow made a big change in her career direction as a film director when she made 2009's "The Hurt Locker." While it still had the adrenaline action sensibilities she displayed in her prior films, this film was less of a Hollywood action movie and more of an honest portrayal of soldiers in a war. This week on The Next Reel, join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we delve into Bigelow's independent war film that made her the first woman to win a Best Director Oscar. We talk about how Mark Boal discovered the story while embedded as a journalist in the war and how well it works as a film, yet also is a script not structured in typical Hollywood fashion. We discuss the actors and what they bring to the table in what is ostensibly a psychological study of these characters. We chat about how the film was shot and what it does for the feel of the film. And we talk about the reception of the film and how disappointing it is that more people haven't seen it. Truly one of our favorites, we have a fantastic time talking about this film. Listen in!
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Strange Days • The Next Reel Dec 27, 2012

Based on a dream James Cameron had in 1985, Strange Days came out in 1995 and strangely took place only 4 years in the future — during the 48 hours leading up to the year 2000. Cameron's ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow, helmed the film, bringing her skills at directing action to the forefront to create what at the time was a wild, mind-bending, noirish tale that looked at people in LA dealing with the latest "drug" craze — living other people's experiences through futuristic recording devices. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we ring in the New Year with the first of our Kathryn Bigelow series on this week's episode of The Next Reel in which we talk about Strange Days.
We talk about what we thought of the film at the time and compare that with how we feel about the film now, noting how much the film doesn't hold up and how many problems it really had. We chat about the script and the vast amounts of expository dialogue and how clunky Cameron can often be when writing scripts. We discuss the performances, particularly Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Tom Sizemore, Vincent D'Onofrio and William Fichtner, and whether they were used effectively or not. We discuss the story elements that worked for us, notably the rape scene, and how effective it is yet how unfortunate it is that the team didn't focus solely on that element rather than force it to tie into the New Year's party story. And we praise the outstanding achievements Bigelow, DP Matthew Leonetti and their team of camera operators, stuntmen, technicians, etc. who worked hard to create — pioneer, really — the stunning work done on the POV shots throughout the film. It's a bit of a disappointment returning to it for us, but we have a great time talking about it. Tune in!
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Christmas in July • The Next Reel Dec 20, 2012

Happy holidays, everybody! It's time for our annual holiday episode here on The Next Reel. This year, we — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — are talking about a film that doesn't actually take place at Christmas time. In fact, it's a movie that doesn't even really have anything to do with the holiday except that the name's in the title. It's Preston Sturges' 1940 forgotten gem, "Christmas in July."
Okay, so it's full of the spirit of giving — therefore it still fits in our books as a holiday film. But it's also full of some of the best and zingiest dialogue that we've heard in ages. There's nothing like the crackling dialogue that Sturges writes, and he gets the right actors to deliver it. Join us this week as we talk about this wonderful (and brief) movie! We chat about the nature of satire in films of the time and how it came to be used, as well as who's writing the same biting satire today. We look at Preston Sturges and his wild up-and-down life. We discuss the themes of the film, from dealing with the poverty of the depression to the nature of belief in one's talent. And we enjoy laughing about the great and hilarious performances by the very talented cast. It's a simple, funny, earnest and joyous film that celebrates giving and believing in one self. We love it and know you will too. Listen in!
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The Fifth Element • The Next Reel Dec 13, 2012

There's something about the wacky sci-fi fantasy eye-gasm The Fifth Element that is very divisive. On one side, it's a bizarre, nonsensical, mess that hardly has a story worth talking about. On the other, it's groundbreaking in its visual effects, inventive in its production and costume design, and a romping, mind-numbing good time. While the characters who aren't weird muppet-y aliens would be better served by actually being cartoons, they're played by big-name actors who all get into their roles with undeniable fervor and relish. It's amazing how much of a mess the film is, yet a lot of people really dig it.
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Léon: The Professional • The Next Reel Dec 06, 2012

It's the perfect description of the awkward yet touching relationship between a simple 40-something assassin and a wise-beyond-her-years pre-teen girl, and it's at the heart of our next pick in our Luc Besson series, his first foray into English-language cinema, 1994's Leon: the Professional, or more simply just Leon. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about this fascinating film that we both quite enjoy, a film that is possibly Besson's best.
We discuss the fascinating hitman story and what Besson brings to the table, including his Besson-isms that aren't as prevalent as they were in Nikita but still show their face. We deliberate on the difficult waters the filmmakers were treading when telling this love-story-buried-within-a-crime-story between Natalie Portman's Mathilda (in her first movie role) and a much older hitman (the always awesome Jean Reno). We talk about the amazing talent — Reno, the amazing turn of 12-year-old Portman, and the ridiculously over the top and meme-inspiring performance of Gary Oldman as a corrupt and evil DEA agent. We chat about the powerful cinematographic moments that Besson and his DP Thierry Arbogast used to capture a few of the most powerful scenes in the film. And we again wonder why Besson feels it necessary to continue employing a composer as bad as Eric Serra. It's a film that Pete has always loved and Andy only just recently realized he likes it a lot more than he thought, and we have a great time talking about it. Listen in!
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Nikita • The Next Reel Nov 29, 2012

We're starting off our Luc Besson series with a film that fascinates us, even if it sometimes devolves into a cartoonish atmosphere. This week, we chat about Besson's 1990 film Nikita, or La Femme Nikita if you're so inclined. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we start off this series with this Pygmalion-like tale of a young woman trained to be a government assassin.
We discuss what works and what doesn't in the performances, particularly focusing on Anne Parillaud's performance of the title character. We chat about Besson and what he brings to the table, for better or for worse. We talk about the nature of this French government assassin program and why it creates an interesting idea, though that is pretty ridiculous when you think about it too long. And we talk about the amazing visual style that Besson uses to tell this story, even if the script and the direction aren't always on par with it. He's a wild director and we have a wild romp in this, the first of our Luc Besson series. Listen in!
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Drive • The Next Reel Nov 22, 2012

Ryan Gosling plays such a mysterious, quiet character in Nicolas Winding Refn's 2011 film, "Drive," that he's never even given a name — he's simply credited as Driver. The film has shades of noir and of 80s crime films, creating a dreamy neon quality interrupted by horribly violent outbursts that wake you up. It's a fascinating film that critics really took notice of when it was released. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we talk about it in this week's episode of Movies We Like, wrapping up our Great Car Chase series.
We talk about the car chases in this film and what they bring to the story. We chat about Gosling as well as all of the other great actors, particularly Albert Brooks who's darker than we've ever seen him before. We chat about the camera used to shoot the film and what that brings to the table. And we mull over the violence as it's depicted in the film, and question what Refn could be saying by making it so violent. It's a great finish to a fun series. Listen in!
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Ronin • The Next Reel Nov 15, 2012

One of John Frankenheimer's best films came late in his career — 1998's Ronin. A seemingly simple story about a group of mercenaries who take a job trying to get a mysterious case is twisted around with double-crosses and plot twists, and becomes a perfect example of Hitchcock's MacGuffin. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — on this week's episode of Movies We Like as we continue our great car chase series. We talk about the great car chases in this film and how they were executed, as well as why Frankenheimer chose to film them the way he did. We discuss the script and the writers, most notably David Mamet, and how he ended up deciding to get credited as co-screenwriter under an alias. We chat about the great actors and what they bring to the film, yet how one of them never has felt right to us in his role, as great of an actor as he is. And we chat about the title of the film, the nature of ronin warriors, and what it means in context of this film. It's a great action thriller with amazing car chases and definitely a film worth talking about. Listen in!
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The French Connection • The Next Reel Nov 09, 2012

It's our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY, everyone! That's right, we've been doing the "Movies We Like" podcast for one year now, and what better way to celebrate than with the next in our Great Car Chase series—William Friedkin's 1971 Best Picture Oscar-winner, "The French Connection." Join us—Pete Wright and Andy Nelson—as we celebrate one of our absolute favorite films. We talk about the fantastic car chase in this film and how Friedkin and his producer Philip D'Antoni—who also produced "Bullitt"—worked hard to come up with a way to kick it up a notch and create what is now regarded one of the best car chases in cinema history. We chat about Friedkin's documentary background and what he brought to the table, creating a gritty vibe and a new style of filmmaking that would change the nature of cop films for years to come. We discuss the fantastic performances all through the film—Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, Fernando Rey, etc.—and how they tapped into this gritty realism by working with their real-life counterparts. We also, of course, talk about the real French connection case that this was based on, who was involved, how they helped with this film, and how the film and the real story differ. And we look at 1971's other cop films and Oscar nominees to see how this film compares. It's top-notch filmmaking and certainly a movie we like. We have a blast talking about it and hope you enjoy listening.
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Bullitt • The Next Reel Nov 01, 2012

Steve McQueen was one of the coolest actors out there. He brought amazing performances to the screen time and time again. The Magnificent Seven. Papillon. The Thomas Crowne Affair. The Great Escape. The Getaway. The Sand Pebbles. The list goes on. In 1968, he played Frank Bullitt in Peter Yates' film Bullitt, and brought incredible realism, sensitivity and intelligence to the role of a San Francisco policeman. He also brought his desire to create realistic car chases, and because of this ended up a part the granddaddy of all car chases put on film.
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The Descent • The Next Reel Oct 25, 2012

These aren't words you want to hear when you're stuck on a spelunking trip, particularly when you find out that the "something" that's down here wants to eat you.
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Dawn of the Dead (2004) • The Next Reel Oct 18, 2012

Zack Snyder's 2004 "Dawn of the Dead" remake of George A. Romero's 1978 zombie classic may not be trying to say much, but it sure provides a good, fun scare.
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28 Days Later • The Next Reel Oct 11, 2012

Zombies had notoriously been slow entities—let's face it, the walking dead just don't move so fast. But then Danny Boyle came along and, with writer Alex Garland, injected the zombie sub-genre with speed in their film "28 Days Later."
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The Thing • The Next Reel Oct 05, 2012

In 1982, John Carpenter's "The Thing" was released but had a tough time competing against other big sci-fi films released at the same time—E.T. the Extra Terrestrial and Blade Runner. It also was viewed by critics as being overly gory and wretched.
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Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street • The Next Reel Sep 27, 2012

"You are young. Life has been kind to you. You will learn." With these words early on in Tim Burton's 2007 film adaptation of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, we instantly get a sense of the dark place that the character of Sweeney Todd, played marvelously by Johnny Depp, has come from.
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Big Fish • The Next Reel Sep 20, 2012

The only thing better than a great story is a great storyteller, and Edward Bloom certainly fits the bill. Not a moment goes by in Tim Burton's 2003 film "Big Fish" when young Edward, played by Ewan McGregor, isn't living one of his fantastical stories or old Edward, played by Albert Finney, isn't spinning one of his wild yarns, and that's the hook that pulls us so readily into the film.
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Rush • The Next Reel Sep 13, 2012

"Pretty soon you be feeling all unnecessary."
In 1991, Richard D. Zanuck and his wife, Lili Fini Zanuck, produced her directorial debut, "Rush," a story of two undercover cops trying to bring down a big drug dealer in a small Texas town and in the process become addicts themselves. Our memory of the film, unfortunately, was a bit better than the film itself (even if one of us disliked it less than the other).
Join us—Pete Wright and Andy Nelson—this week on Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" as we talk about this financial failure for the Zanucks. We talk about the troubles with the script and how it may have been a better film if they stuck to the truth of the story it was based on. We chat about the actors, particularly the leads Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh, and how she really is the one who grounds the film, providing something to latch onto. There's also Sam Elliott and Max Perlich providing great moments and Gregg Allman looking very serious. We chat about the camera work, particularly the long shots that Lili uses periodically, and how they work for the story. And we discuss where this falls in the Zanuck line-up and where they go from here.
Despite the movie not being everything we remember from 1991, we have a great time talking about it. Listen in!
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Driving Miss Daisy • The Next Reel Sep 06, 2012

Driving Miss Daisy was a perfect story choice for Richard D. Zanuck to produce. Sure, it was difficult to get made but for a film that only cost $7.5 million dollars to produce, it raked in over $100 million at the domestic box office, putting it in the top 10 of the year with the likes of Batman and Lethal Weapon 2. Topping that off, it led Zanuck, along with his wife, Lili Fini Zanuck, to win the Best Picture award at the Oscars.
But this 1989 film, which deals with prejudice and friendship in the relationship between an old Jewish woman in the south and her African American driver, stands out for many people as a perfect example of what's wrong with the Oscars because it came out the same year as Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, a film that deals with race relations in a much more intense and direct way, and what many feel should have won the Best Picture award.
Regardless of your position on which is the better film or which should have won, Bruce Beresford's film Driving Miss Daisy, written by Alfred Uhry based on his Pulitzer prize-winning play, is a beautiful, simple, and sweet story of two people who are the most unlikely to develop a friendship, yet they do just that. And it's heartwarming.
Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — on this week's episode of Rash Pixel's Movies We Like as we discuss the amazing performances — Morgan Freeman, Jessica Tandy, and Dan Aykroyd are all fantastic. We chat about what the film is saying about race and look at in context of the 25 years over which the story takes place. We look at the films it was up against at the Oscars that year (as well as those that weren't nominated). And we discuss the amazing or horrible Hans Zimmer music, depending on your taste for his 80s synthesized scores. It's a discussion that ranges all over the map as we talk about this wonderful film, the fourth in our Richard D. Zanuck series. We have a great time talking about it, and hope you have a great time listening to it. Listen in!
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Jaws • The Next Reel Aug 30, 2012

"I used to hate the water."
"I can't imagine why."
When someone says the word 'jaws' to you, it inevitably conjures up the man-eating great white shark in Steven Spielberg's 1975 thriller masterpiece. It's hard to imagine a time when the word 'jaws' didn't do this. But that's what Spielberg's film "Jaws" did, as well as birth the notion of the summer blockbuster and make people not want to swim in the ocean.
Join us—Pete Wright and Andy Nelson—on this week's episode of Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" as we chat about this film, the next in our Richard D. Zanuck series. We talk about why this film works so well and how it tapped into people's natural fears. We discuss the unfortunate repercussion this film had on people's understanding of sharks and how Peter Benchley, the author of the book and co-screenwriter, now wishes he hadn't written the book for that very reason. We talk about the great cast headed up by Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw, and what they bring to the table as well as the technical mastery the crew added to this film, from the amazing cinematography to the sound and, of course, John Williams' unforgettable score. And we discuss the amazing new Blu-ray that Universal just released, creating a finished product that looks like it could have been shot yesterday. It's one of the greatest films out there and well worth talking about. Listen in!
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The Sting • The Next Reel Aug 23, 2012

After his father fired him from 20th Century Fox and a short stint at Warner Bros., Richard D. Zanuck joined forces with his buddy David Brown from his Fox days and the two joined forces as the independent producing duo under the banner The Zanuck/Brown Company. For their first film? They found possibly one of the greatest scripts ever written -- David S. Ward's "The Sting" -- got George Roy Hill to direct with Paul Newman and Robert Redford heading up the stellar cast and ended up producing the Best Picture winner of 1973, as well as one of the greatest films ever made. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- this week on Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" for the second in our Richard D. Zanuck series as we discuss (and maybe gush a little bit because of our overwhelming love for this film) everything that makes "The Sting" great. We chat about David S. Ward's amazing script and why it works so well, as well as the world of con men and how this film does such a stellar job of welcoming us into this world. We talk about George Roy Hill and what he brings to the table, particularly with Newman and Redford, two amazing actors with whom he worked a few years earlier in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." We discuss the rest of the team and their invaluable contributions as well as the 7 Oscars the film took home for those contributions. And we revel in the amazing Scott Joplin ragtime tunes that fill the film from beginning to end, wonderfully arranged by the late, great Marvin Hamlisch. It's a fantastic film -- one of our favorites -- and one that really put Richard D. Zanuck on the map as an independent producer in his own right, helping him get out from under his father's immense shadow. Listen in!
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Compulsion • The Next Reel Aug 17, 2012

"Murder's nothing. It's just a simple experience. Murder and rape. Do you know what beauty there is in evil?" It's the start of our Richard D. Zanuck tribute series, ladies and gentlemen, and what better way to begin than with the first film he produced for his father, Darryl F. Zanuck, 1959's "Compulsion." Based on the book of the same name by Meyer Levin about the Leopold/Loeb murder from 1924, Richard D. Zanuck puts together a top notch team of cast and crew, headed up by director Richard Fleischer, to create a film that comes in under budget and ahead of schedule. It's a fascinating story about two young geniuses who are convinced they can commit the perfect crime and they do -- except one of them accidentally drops his glasses at the scene of the crime. The true story is horrifying, and it's equally so in this honest film depiction. With neither of us having seen this film before preparing for this episode, we stumbled upon a rare gem that deserves more viewers. We chat about the incredible cast headed up by Dean Stockwell and Bradford Dillman as the two murderers, Orson Welles as their lawyer, E.G. Marshall as the DA prosecuting them, Gavin MacLeod as his assistant, and Diane Varsi and Martin Milner as the friends caught up in the whole mess. We discuss Fleischer and what he brought to the table, along with William C. Mellor, the DP. We also discuss the interesting homosexual and sadomasochistic subtexts the film broaches, as well as rape and capital punishment, which for 1959 was a pretty big deal. It's an amazing film to stumble across and the perfect start for our Richard D. Zanuck tribute series. Check the movie out on Amazon and listen in!
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The Bourne Legacy • The Next Reel Aug 09, 2012

"Jason Bourne was just the tip of the iceberg."
We always knew there were other operatives out there, and when the producers couldn't get Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass to return to do another Jason Bourne movie, they did the right thing by bringing in the man who's been with the series from the start—Tony Gilroy—to not only write but also direct this latest entry into the franchise, "The Bourne Legacy."
Tony Gilroy opens up the world of these supersoldier spies and builds on the already complex levels of secret government programs to bring us another operative from one of Treadstone's sister programs. This time, it's Aaron Cross played with intensity and intelligence by Jeremy Renner. Join us—Pete Wright and Andy Nelson—on this week's episode of Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" as we delve into the complex and globetrotting story.
We discuss what the new actors to the franchise—Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, and Stacy Keach—bring to the table. We talk about the fascinating way Gilroy makes a film that actually takes place in parallel to "The Bourne Ultimatum" and how that enhances the size of this universe. We chat about the stunts and chase sequences in the film and how the work and don't work, and we cover the elements that work for us as well as those that don't. On the whole, it's a great entry into the Bourne franchise and one that we're happy to talk about. Listen in!
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The Bourne Ultimatum • The Next Reel Aug 02, 2012

"You start down this path, where does it end?" "It ends when we've won." Frightening words coming from a CIA agent more intent on keeping his team's illegal program under wraps than in saving American lives. And that's the man intent on preventing Jason Bourne from learning about his past, because that man, Noah Vosen -- played wonderfully by the ever-brilliant David Strathairn -- knows it will lead to his own downfall. It's time, ladies and gentlemen, for the final chapter in the Jason Bourne trilogy, even if it's not the end of the Bourne series. Jason finally works to dig up where he came from, no matter how ugly it is, and come to terms with it. It's a great film and an awesome end to this trilogy, even if the jiggly monkey cam does make people literally vomit in the aisles. Listen in as we -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- talk about it this week on Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like!" We chat about Jason Bourne's and Matt Damon's character growth/performance over the course of these three films and how it matures. We discuss the nature of the camerawork and how it seems to get progressively shakier as the series progresses. We discuss the top notch editing and stuntwork in this film. And we talk about its place in the Bourne franchise. We have a great time discussing this film as we lead up to the release of The Bourne Legacy. Join us!
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The Bourne Supremacy • The Next Reel Jul 26, 2012

"Word in the ether was you'd lost your memory."
Jason Bourne's back, still trying to figure out his past as a government assassin while struggling to stay ahead of both the good and bad guys as they attempt to take him out. This week, we're covering the 2004 film, "The Bourne Supremacy", the second in the Bourne franchise. Paul Greengrass took over as director after Doug Liman's struggles with the studio brass on the first film, and he does a bang-up job -- quite literally, in fact. He brings a much more in-the-action style to the story, making it feel like you're in the fights with Jason Bourne. Or for some people, just making them nauseated -- there's a reason some people call this style "queasicam". Join us as we -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- talk about the movie this week on Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like". We discuss the directing styles of Greengrass vs. Liman and the cohesiveness of the two styles in the series. We chat about the amazing stuntwork and how it really brings a level of reality to the story. We cover the amazing actors and performances in the film, as well as talk about the amazing crew who brought it all together. We talk more about Bourne versus Bond. We discuss the complicated plot twists in the overall story, even if they don't entirely work. And we also give props to a few people we forgot to mention in the last episode, other key players who helped make "The Bourne Identity" what it was. Listen in!
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The Bourne Identity • The Next Reel Jul 20, 2012

"I can tell you the license plate numbers of all six cars outside. I can tell you that our waitress is left-handed and the guy sitting up at the counter weighs two hundred fifteen pounds and knows how to handle himself. I know the best place to look for a gun is the cab of the gray truck outside, and at this altitude, I can run flat out for a half mile before my hands start shaking. Now why would I know that? How can I know that and not know who I am?"
This week, movie lovers, we begin our series on the Bourne movies, starting here with Doug Liman's 2002 film, The Bourne Identity. Born from Robert Ludlum's classic spy thriller, this movie came out a time when the spy film genre was feeling a little... overstuffed. This film, as well as the two that followed it, proved that a spy film could be more than just action scenes loosely strung together with threads of a weak story. Join us—Pete Wright and Andy Nelson—as we build to the upcoming The Bourne Legacy with this week's episode of Rash Pixel's Movies We Like. We chat about the Bourne series and Robert Ludlum who created it. We discuss the theory of the modern action filmmaking style, Chaos Cinema, and how it plays into the series. We also touch on this film as compared to the James Bond film of the same year, Die Another Day. It's a fun film and well worth watching. Join us as we begin digging into the empty pockets of Jason Bourne's mind!
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The African Queen • The Next Reel Jul 12, 2012

"What a time we had, Rosie. What a time we had." This week on Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like," we're finishing up our far-too-short series on cinematographer Jack Cardiff with the wonderful 1951 film, "The African Queen". John Huston co-wrote and directed it, choosing to shoot as much as he possibly could in Africa. While many said it couldn't be done -- shooting a story on location about two characters typically considered much too old for a love story -- John Huston proved them wrong. His choice of Jack Cardiff as cinematographer goes a long way in showing all of the reasons why shooting in Africa was right for the story, and his decision to cast Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn as Charlie Allnut and Rose Sayer allowed the story to be played authentically by actors who knew what they were doing and made it real. The film went on to earn buckets of money, critical praise, and award recognition. It's truly a film that has stood the test of time as well, and we -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- have a great time talking about it. Join us as we talk about Jack Cardiff's role in making cinematography what it is today. We chat about the rough time everyone had on the production, not to mention the pre-production. We discuss the story and the wonderful actors in it, and we talk about why it still works so well. It's a fantastic film and we love talking about it. Listen in!
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The Red Shoes • The Next Reel Jul 05, 2012

"You cannot have it both ways. A dancer who relies upon the doubtful comforts of human love can never be a great dancer. Never." And thus sums up the battle within Michael Powell's and Emeric Pressburger's 1948 film, "The Red Shoes" -- the battle between love and art. Can the two exist together? Or will one always win out and destroy the other? It's a fascinating question posed in a beautiful and sumptuous film that we -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- talk about this week on Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like." Join us as we talk about the movie and what it's come to mean in the world of film. We talk about the fans of this film, particularly Martin Scorsese, and how they came together to restore this film into the mindbogglingly gorgeous version we have today. We chat about the amazing performances led by Anton Walbrook as the dark and controlling ballet impresario and Moira Shearer as the prima ballerina torn between love and dance. We discuss the amazing look of the film, focusing primarily on Jack Cardiff's stunning 3-strip technicolor cinematography. We talk about the realism and how it turns almost magical after the ballet of the Red Shoes midway through the film leading us to the inevitable and heartbreaking conclusion. And we talk about the nature of Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy tale and how it enhances and defines this film. It's an amazing film to watch. Join us this week as we catch up on this classic!
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Up in the Air • The Next Reel Jun 29, 2012

"We are here to make limbo tolerable, to ferry wounded souls across the river of dread, and to point where hope is dimly visible. And then we stop the boat, shove them in the water and make them swim." This week, ladies and gentlemen, we -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- talk about Jason Reitman's third, and arguably best, film: 2009's Up in the Air. It's an amazing film that deals in a heavy issue of our time -- the economic downturn and widespread downsizing. What's even more amazing is how the film ends up, for the most part, leaving you with a feeling of hope. Sure, there are tragic elements, but overall, it's the message of connection with others that resounds by the film's end. Join us this week as we chat about all the great performances in the film led by George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick, as well as the amazing technical hands working behind the scenes. We talk about the unique decision to cast all those let go in the film with real-world people who had, in fact, recently been let go. And we cover the themes of the story and what Reitman and before him Walter Kirn, upon whose 2001 novel the film is based, are getting across in the film. It's a beautiful film, well deserving of all the accolades it received upon its release. Connect with us this week as we talk about it!
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Thank You For Smoking • The Next Reel Jun 22, 2012

"Michael Jordan plays ball. Charles Mason kills people. I talk. Everyone has a talent." It's a movie about spin and the spin doctors who spin it -- Jason Reitman's fantastic 2006 satire Thank You for Smoking. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- as we talk about it this week on Rash Pixel's Movies We Like. It's a fantastic film and we both love it. We chat about how the film was received and what people likely thought when comparing it to the book it was based on -- the 1994 novel of the same name by Christopher Buckley. We talk about the nature of satire and the nature of spin. We chat about the role the son plays in this film and the direction -- if any -- that Nick Naylor grows as protagonist (or is he an antihero?). And we chat about how Jason Reitman, Ivan's son, managed to get this -- his first -- film made. It's an absolutely fabulous film, especially as a first film, and we have a great time talking about it this week. Join us!
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Prometheus • The Next Reel Jun 15, 2012

"Big things have small beginnings."
Well, not when envisioned by Ridley Scott and written by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof. "Prometheus," the non-prequel to "Alien" is anything but a small beginning to this universe and, while ambitious, leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions and problems that shouldn't have been there in the first place. It's a frustrating film to talk about, movie lovers, but one that we have a great time discussing. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- in this week's episode of Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" as we really dig into this film and discuss everything about it, from the stunning visuals to the problematic script. We talk about the team who put together these visuals and who rightfully should all receive numerous accolades. We talk about the cast, particularly the stand-out performance of Michael Fassbender as David. We also look at his relationship with the other androids in the Alien anthology. We chat about the fundamental script problems in this film and the trickle-down effect they have on the rest of the film. We also talk about how, despite those problems, the script and the film still pose some fascinating questions that are worth talking about long after the film's been watched. It's a fascinating film, albeit problematic, and one worth discussion -- preferably over a slice of pie -- so join us this week on "Movies We Like" to listen in!
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Alien: Resurrection • The Next Reel Jun 08, 2012

It's the end of our conversation about the Alien anthology, ladies and gentlemen, and this week, we discuss Alien: Resurrection, a tough film to watch and an unfortunate end to the anthology (that took a further unfortunate turn by leading the franchise into the Alien Vs. Predator films). And while it's a hard to film to categorize as a movie we like, we still have a great conversation about what worked, what didn't, and a great many other things tangentially (or not) related to the franchise. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- on this week's episode of Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" as we chat about the great actors, the director, the writer, and others on the crew who we love but who somehow ended up tied into this mess. We chat about our overall thoughts of the anthology, how we think it ties into Prometheus and the nature of making films that take place in the same universe but don't tie together necessarily (Marvel, anyone?). Finally, we touch on some fun bits of trivia from the franchise. It's a fun conversation about a movie that doesn't really work but that had a lot going for it. Listen in!
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Alien 3 • The Next Reel May 31, 2012

"When they first heard about this thing, it was 'Crew Expendable'. The next time, they sent in marines. They were expendable too. What makes you think they're gonna care about a bunch of lifers who found God at the ass-end of space?" The third time may not be a charm for the Alien anthology, movie lovers, but it turns out to be a better film than many people gave it credit for back in 1992. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- this week on Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" as we talk about David Fincher's first film, Alien 3 (also conveniently and belatedly finishing up our Benjamin Button-style Fincher Fest). In this episode, we talk about what we thought of the film back then versus what we think now. We chat about the immense script and production problems this film went through all along its journey to theaters, and also talk about what was cut out and eventually put back into the 2003 Assembly Cut. We talk about the troubles David Fincher had, yet contrast that with what he was still able to get up on screen. We hash through the special effects, discussing how great they were back then but how they certainly haven't aged well. We touch on the fantastic cast and debate whether there was enough new story for the Ripley character to play out in this or if she'd already run her course. We talk about the budget and how, even with all of its immense overages, the film still managed to rake in a healthy chunk of dough. We touch on Elliot Goldenthal's music, creating a haunting, eerie score that fits the film well. And are you curious as to what Meryl Streep's connection is to this film, movie lovers? Listen in to find out!
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Aliens • The Next Reel May 24, 2012

"Game over, man! Game over!" There are few sequels that can stand up to the originals as well asAliens can to its predecessor, and it's clear that we -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- really like this film. Join us this week on Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" as we talk about why we truly like this film and what it means to us. We chat about the relationship this 1986 James Cameron film has with Ridley Scott's original Alien, how Cameron got the job to do it and what his vision for the film was. We also talk about the differences between the original cut and the director's cut that came out under a decade later. We chat about the amazing cast, the incredible crew, and the ALIENS -- damn, they're impressive in this film. We talk about the lengths Cameron, Stan Winston and the rest of the team went to so that they could create what appears to be hundreds of aliens, and none of them moving like they're just a man in a costume. We talk about the nature and possible controversy of the Alien Queen, and how the addition of the character messes up the intentions of the additional footage in the Alien director's cut (if it does at all). We also talk about why this film works so well and how it fits as a partnership pairing with the first film. It's a great movie and we love talking about it this week on "Movies We Like!" Listen in!
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Alien • The Next Reel May 17, 2012

"You still don't understand what you're dealing with, do you? A perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility." This week begins our journey into the Alien franchise, dear listeners, which ends with our discussion of Prometheus on June 15th. We start with the amazing beginning of it all, 1979's Alien. Ridley Scott and his team -- from the writers Dan O'Bannon, Ron Shusett, Walter Hill and David Giler, to the incredible production design of H.R. Giger, Ron Cobb and Michael Seymour, to Jerry Goldsmith's haunting and terrifying score, to the incredible performances led by Sigourney Weaver, to the amazing sound editing by Jim Shields, to the cinematography by Derek Vanlint -- took the science fiction and the horror genres and found a way to merge them in a way that redefined both those genres as well as many cinema conventions aftrward. It's a stunning film and one we're happy to talk about with you. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- on this week's episode of Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" as we discuss the origins of the story as well as the importance of bringing H.R. Giger on board. We chat about what this film did for its two genres (and we don't even mention how much it still influences sci fi and horror films to this day -- anyone remember who did the voice of Mother in WALL-E?). We cover the amazing cast and their roles in all of the pivotal scenes that stand out still to this day. We chat about the battles between Jerry Goldsmith and Ridley Scott over the score, and more. Listen in!
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Field of Dreams • The Next Reel May 10, 2012

It's the end of our baseball series, movie fans, and what a better way to end it than by talking about Phil Alden Robinson's fantastic fantasy film from 1989, "Field of Dreams." Considering Pete's disdain of Kevin Costner (at least in Bull Durham), it's a refreshing surprise to hear that he really likes this movie. On the other hand, it's a bit disturbing to hear Andy talk about why he loves it so much. Regardless, it's clearly a great movie with a fascinating script about a character who is a grownup on a hero's journey to becoming a man. Powerful stuff. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- this week on Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" as we discuss the great Oscar-nominated script by Robinson and why it has such an interesting structure, setting us up right out of the gate for this fantasy world we're in. We talk about the mythos it creates, both in the film and in the real world. And we chat about the crew, the great actors and James Earl Jones' amazing speech. It's one worth talking about, so listen in! In addition, we touch on the amazing week The Avengers has had and what it could mean for Joss Whedon. We also discuss Captain America's possible strange tie to Ronald Reagan. We discuss some pretty-bad-but-entertaining-nonetheless movies, and we talk about the possibility of maybe doing an episode in the future using Google+ hangouts. It's a great week! Come on in!
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Bull Durham • The Next Reel May 03, 2012

"Man, that ball got outta here in a hurry." It's time for more 80s baseball movies, ladies and gentlemen! This week, we're talking about Bull Durham, Ron Shelton's 1988 tribute to the minor leagues. If there ever was a film to compare religion to baseball to sex, this would be that film. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- as we talk about what works (the script), what doesn't (the actors, at least two in particular for Pete), and why this film goes down in the pantheon of greatest sports films made. Aside from Pete's problems with Susan Sarandon in this film and Kevin Costner in most films, we discuss the great Tim Robbins and how much he's really bringing to the table as "Nuke" Laloosh. We discuss Ron Shelton, how he got to the point where he was able to make this film, and where he is now. We also chat about where this film fits as far as genre and what Shelton's really doing with this film -- it's much more a character piece than a story about a team trying to win the big game (or a romantic comedy sports movie -- romcomspofi -- as Wikipedia claims). While we're at odds about the43 acting, we both think the script is solid, and are happy to discuss it this week. Listen in!
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Major League • The Next Reel Apr 26, 2012

"Juuuuust a bit outside." That's right, ladies and gentlemen -- we're switching things up a bit this week on Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" -- instead of "Bull Durham" as promised, we're pulling a switcheroo and flipflopping that with 1989's baseball comedy classic, "Major League." Sure, it's a bit dated, but man, it's still a fun and funny film. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- this week as we talk about this comedy gem from David S. Ward, Academy Award-winning writer/director. We jaw about the importance of casting actors who know how to play the game -- and how it's not just something they can "act" their way through. We chat about the backgrounds of Ward and his all-star (at the time) cast as well as discuss Ward's lifetime love of the Cleveland Indians and why he chose to write and direct this movie. We talk about the Indians and their long and sordid history (and yes, Andy even works his great-great uncle back into the conversation). And we discuss why this film still works so well, but also why some of it doesn't work, namely the music that dates it. It's a blast to reconnect with old memories and talk about this movie again. Listen in, baseball and baseball movie lovers!
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The Natural • The Next Reel Apr 19, 2012

Baseball. Just like apple pie, it's an intrinsic part of America. Movies about baseball, on the other hand, didn't really become popular forms of entertainment until 1984's "The Natural", which is what we're talking about this week on Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" podcast. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- as we expound on the mythos of this film and what makes it so great. Is it the amazing (and surprisingly dark) source material written by Bernard Malamud? Or the brilliant performances headed up by Robert Redford? The stunning and timeless score by Randy Newman? Or is it the nature of the game itself? It's hard to say, ladies and gentlemen, but we cover all of it. We talk about the amazing and Oscar-nominated cinematography and art direction. We talk about what makes baseball movies great -- possibly better than other sports movies as a whole (except Caddyshack). We chat about how Barry Levinson and his team came together to make this, the first film for Tri-Star Pictures, a brand new studio (until Sony swallowed it up). We touch on the history of baseball movies, and even mention Andy's tie to the history of the sport itself (even if he can't get his facts straight). It's a wonderful film about a true hero's journey that can make grown men cry. It's a great film to kick off our 80s baseball movie series. Listen in!
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Joe Versus the Volcano • The Next Reel Apr 12, 2012

What does a flibbertigibbet, bubaru, a set of artificial testicles, a luggage salesman, a brain cloud, and a volcano hungry for human sacrifices have in common? They're all part of the vastly underrated and misunderstood existential comedy from 1990, Joe Versus the Volcano. A film much beloved by Pete Wright and Andy Nelson, join them as they chat about it this week on Movies We Like. They'll talk about what the film is really all about and why it may have not connected with audiences when it came out. They'll hash through the plot and all its fine points, discussing the amazing writer/director John Patrick Shanley, as well as all the wonderful performances led by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. They'll talk about Bo Welch's amazing production design and Georges Delerue's beautiful score (along with all the stellar songs used throughout). And they'll discuss the problems the script and film have, particularly in the 3rd act. Despite those problems, it's a standout film with a message about not sleeping through life but standing up and taking a leap of faith. Andy and Pete love it and challenge you to revisit it with a fresh mindset this week. Listen in—you may walk away with a new favorite movie!
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All the President's Men • The Next Reel Apr 05, 2012

And thus begins the twisted journey, movie fans, that Woodward and Bernstein have to take to track down the truth behind one of the biggest scandals our country has ever faced, which led to the President's resignation. This week on Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like", join us—Pete Wright and Andy Nelson—as we talk about the third film in Alan J. Pakula's unofficial paranoia trilogy.
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The Parallax View • The Next Reel Mar 29, 2012

We're neck-deep in conspiracy this week, movie lovers, as we're talking about one of the 70s great conspiracy theory thrillers -- Alan J. Pakula's The Parallax View from 1974, the second film in his unofficial paranoia trilogy. It's dark, it's full of paranoia, and it's got a crazy montage film in the middle that's possibly being used by a secret government organization that's trying to determine if you're good material for an assassin. Join us -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- on this week's episode of Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" as we rattle on about the nature of paranoia and conspiracy, and how this film so brilliantly plays into them. We'll talk about how the film was designed to put people in large environments, giving a sense that these characters have no power in this world. We'll talk about the nature of voyeurism and how the way the film is shot plays into this as well, which also plays well into the role of the Parallax Corporation in the story. And we, of course, talk about the montage in the middle of the film and what it's doing there. It's a fantastic -- and not really dated -- film that's worth talking about. Listen in!
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Klute • The Next Reel Mar 22, 2012

Hey, movie lovers! We're taking a leap back to the 70s with this next series—Alan J. Pakula's paranoia trilogy. First up, 1971's "Klute," a dark and gritty character study/thriller about a small town detective trying to get information from a call girl about his missing friend. Join us this week as we talk about this fantastic film! We chat about the nature of 70s films and why they feel so dark and gritty. We talk about the amazing and dark cinematography of Gordon Willis. We discuss the nature of paranoia in the 70s and how this film plays into it, whether through the script, the acting, the directing, or the cinematography. And we talk about the performances, particularly Jane Fonda's Oscar-winning turn as Bree Daniels. She stands out in this film so much that we didn't give enough kudos to the brilliantly underplayed performance by Donald Sutherland in the title role. It's a great film that stands out as a movie we like (and tying it into previous podcasts, it's one of David Fincher's faves as well). So check out the movie and listen in!
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Hot Fuzz • The Next Reel Mar 15, 2012

Helllooooooo! Tonight, we're talking "Hot Fuzz", the perfect comedy homage to every cop action film ever made! The second and last film made thus far in the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy, this film was again written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, directed by Wright and starring Pegg. Join us as we talk about the fantastic filmmaking style that Wright brings to this film, particularly the ever-so-perfect Tony Scott-style series of shots, which we aptly name the "Jiggly Monkey". We also faun over the stellar cast, particularly the Daltonator in all his 'stache glory. We chat about the intense over-the-top violence and how it works in the film. We discuss the nature of parody or spoof films vs. homage films, and we rattle off all the cliches that this film employs so perfectly. It's an action film that features the shortest car chase in film history, a cuddly monkey and a Japanese Peace Lily, with a bit of impaling thrown in for good measure. Listen in! And by the way, did you know that NASA named the Japanese Peace Lily one of the top 10 air cleaning plants? Good to know.
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Shaun of the Dead • The Next Reel Mar 09, 2012

Hellooooooo! Time for a break from all those heavy films, movie fans. Tonight, join Pete and Andy as we discuss the first of the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy (despite the fact that there are only two films thus far). Yes, we're going to be chatting about Edgar Wright's hilarious ode to zombie cinema, "Shaun of the Dead," a film he co-wrote with star Simon Pegg. It's a hilarious film that also works wonderfully as an homage to every zombie convention you can imagine. We talk about why it works so well, how it came to be, the hilarious cast (particularly our fave Bill Nighy), British manners, Edgar Wright's filmmaking style, and the endlessly quotable lines. And yes, we quote them. Endlessly. Join us for a laugh. Now how's that for a slice of fried gold? Yeeeee-aaahh, bo-iiieeee!
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Se7en • The Next Reel Mar 02, 2012

Well, movie lovers, it's that time. We've hit the end of our Benjamin Button style Fincher Fest. This week, Pete Wright and Andy Nelson talk about David Fincher's knock-you-out-of-your-seat detective thriller Seven, or Se7en if you prefer. Join us as we talk about how we feel about this film now that we've worked backward through Fincher's oeuvre. We talk about all the wonderful performances (though we get sidetracked on Brad Pitt and don't give Morgan Freeman enough attention) and how Fincher really from the start knew how to work with his actors as well as his technical partners. We discuss the script and how it found its way to Fincher. We hash through the ending and what other endings it could have had. And we chat about the bleach bypass process that Fincher used to give the film its look. It's a stellar film that stands out as a highlight in Fincher's career and we look forward to you joining us this week as we talk about it on "Movies We Like!"
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The Game • The Next Reel Feb 24, 2012

Greetings, movie lovers! This week, we continue our Fincher Fest with a discussion about "The Game," a dark and twisting tale that Pete finds he doesn't really like anymore while Andy still connects with. Join us as we chat about why this film doesn't seem to work for Pete anymore and how Blake Snyder's book "Save the Cat!" may give us the answer, particularly as it relates to the current 99% movement and possibly also to some extent previous roles Michael Douglas has portrayed. We dig into why some people bought into this elaborate hoax that the story sets up and others didn't. We discuss how this movie came to be and who was originally slated to star in it, and we really get off on some of the great language in the script. It's a gloomy ride that satisfies some and leaves other pining for later and greater Fincher efforts, but we still have a great time talking about it so join in!
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Fight Club • The Next Reel Feb 17, 2012

Greetings, movie lovers. This week, we hit David Fincher's film "Fight Club." Is it just an anarchic, pugilistic sensation or is Fincher really working at tapping into a dark zeitgeist affecting the average person at the turn of the century? Join us as we talk about this tale of an everyman narrator struggling to find sense in his Ikea life and how his dark counterpart, Tyler Durden, helps him find himself. We hit on the brilliant performances by Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, as well as the always wonderful Helena Bonham Carter. We discuss the message Fincher is saying and how this is, possibly, the only real film that Fincher's made that is more than just a genre film of some sort. Listen in, and let us know what you think of this wild ride!
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Panic Room • The Next Reel Feb 10, 2012

We've made it to the middle of the Fincher-Fest, movie lovers! This week, join us as we talk about his one-location movie, "Panic Room." Falling right between "Fight Club" and "Zodiac", this movie really marks a turning point for David Fincher's films -- starting here, he moves into the land of digital cinema (mostly) and finds a more controlled approach to his storytelling. Join us as we talk about the trials and tribulations that went into getting this film made -- an impending writers' strike, last minute actress and supporting actress replacements, a seemingly simple script that redefined complexity of camerawork on the set, and a six-month production schedule that had to work around not only Jodie Foster's pregnancy going from 1st to 3rd term, but also Kristin Stewart -- then not so famous for being Bella in "Twilight" -- growing from being shorter than Jodie Foster to being taller than her. This in a film that takes place over the course of one night for the most part. It's a tense, claustrophobic, well-paced thrill ride that's worth taking, and we have a blast talking about it. Listen in!
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Zodiac • The Next Reel Feb 03, 2012

Back in 2007, David Fincher created what many consider his best film, Zodiac. Hailed by dozens of critics as one of the best films of the year, it unfortunately never found its audience and ended up a financial failure. This week, movie lovers, join us as we delve into this meticulously crafted, haunting and sometimes scary film that details the obsession one man had in solving the Zodiac killings in the San Francisco area in the late 60s. From a script by James Vanderbilt based on Robert Graysmith's doggedly detailed books "Zodiac" and "Zodiac Unmasked", Fincher's pursuit to create as accurate a portrayal of the truth as possible give us a beautifully restrained look at how the police and newspaper reporters worked hard to try to find an answer to the killings yet never did so. We talk about how this potentially is the reason the film didn't fare well at the box office. We also discuss the film's impeccable cast (let's all give a hand to John Carroll Lynch's unforgettably creepy portrayal of Arthur Leigh Allen!); chat about the amazing (and invisible) visual effects used to recreate the San Francisco area from 1968 to 1991 that truly take us back in time; and cover how this film was the first film to shoot with the then new digital camera, the Viper, and what that allowed Harry Savides, the cinematographer, to do. It's a drastically underwatched film, in our opinion, and we think you ALL need to go rent it right now then listen in!
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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button • The Next Reel Jan 27, 2012

Our third stop on the Fincher Fest train brings us to David Fincher's 2008 drama, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Fincher outdid himself on this film, combining all elements available to him from tried and true practical elements through state-of-the-art digital effects -- not to mention countless top-notch performances -- to create an astounding period film about an astounding person who is born old and ages backward. We discuss the journey this F. Scott Fitzgerald story took to get to the silver screen -- a long one that at one point had Frank Oz slated to direct it and Martin Short to star as Benjamin! We chat about watching Benjamin Button, played by Brad Pitt in one of his best performances, age backward and the unreal makeup work done to pull it off, not just for him but for all the characters in the film. We talk about the themes this story is hitting upon and why it works so well, and we discuss the immense amount of money put into getting this film made and how Fincher managed to pull it all off and still turn it into a profitable film. The film won 3 Academy Awards and was nominated for an amazing 13 Academy Awards (though it should have been 14 as Cate Blanchett, who didn't get a nomination as Best Actress, has never been better!). Join us as we dig into this gorgeous film!
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The Social Network • The Next Reel Jan 20, 2012

Greetings and salutations, movie aficionados! Welcome to the second episode of our Benjamin Button-style David Fincher-fest! Tonight, we discuss arguably his greatest film—certainly his most critically acclaimed. It's "The Social Network," from Aaron Sorkin's script that is simply on fire. Joining us tonight as a special guest is Chadd Stoops: actor, longtime friend of Pete and Andy, and HUGE fan of this film. In this episode, we discuss the realities of the movie's reality—was it fair for the filmmakers in telling this story to change the truths in order to make a more compelling film? We talk about the spot-on performances all around as well as the amazing magic Fincher worked to double Armie Hammer as the Winklevoss twins. We look at what this film is really saying about social networking and the people behind Facebook, and we discuss how "Fincher" this film really is. We also chime in on our opinions as to why it didn't win Best Picture at the Oscars. It's a spirited conversation about an incredibly relevant and hugely important piece of modern history. Listen in! Oh, and since we're talking about a movie about Facebook, make sure you go to the Rash Pixel page on Facebook and Like us! That way you can be a part of OUR social network! Happy listening!
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) • The Next Reel Jan 13, 2012

It's the start of the Benjamin Button-style Fincher-Fest, movie lovers! And what better way to kick it off than to take a look at David Fincher's current film, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," based on Stieg Larsson's first book in his internationally best-selling "Millenium" trilogy. It's already racking up end-of-the-year accolades and incredible buzz about Rooney Mara's knock-your-socks-off performance of Lisbeth Salander (all well-earned), even though some contingents of fans of the original Swedish films (great films in their own right that only came out last year) question why Hollywood felt it so necessary to adapt the books again so quickly after the others were made. The Swedish films certainly put Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist -- who play Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist, respectively -- on the map in international casting circles (Rapace has since appeared in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and just wrapped in Ridley Scott's Prometheus while Nyqvist appeared in John Singleton's Abduction earlier this year and currently can be seen in Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol.) In this episode, we talk about the various iterations of this first of Larsson's stories -- did the Americans need to make their own version, what works in each version and what doesn't, what did Fincher and his team bring to the table, etc. We work to put in context what the Swedish film is to Swedish audiences by comparing similar statistics with American films. We discuss the performances -- Rooney Mara's brilliant work as well as the amazing Daniel Craig who we both feel isn't just playing James Bond in Sweden. We discuss the change in the end of the story and how we feel about it as well as all of the sequences that come after the climax. We chat about the team behind this -- Steven Zaillian who is having a great year with this and Moneyball, Jeff Cronenweth, Ren Klyce, Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross -- and that's just some of the crew! Robin Wright, Stellan Skarsgard, Julian Sands and the always amazing Christopher Plummer all give brilliant performances. One actor we don't mention in this episode but who is worth mentioning here is Yorick van Wageningen, the poor actor stuck with playing the brutal role of Nils Bjurman. He was so traumatized after filming his pivotal rape scene with Mara that he locked himself in his hotel room for a day and cried. Obviously his choice to take the role, but it's always good to be reminded that an actor is not the character they portray. So if you haven't had a chance to read the book or watch either film version, go do so before listening in because we have some spoilers, then tune in and join us as we take on this fascinating murder mystery with one of film's most intriguing characters in years.
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When Harry Met Sally... • The Next Reel Jan 06, 2012

It's a new year, movie lovers, and in this episode, we take on an incredible film with crisp, spot-on, endlessly quotable dialogue, a cast that is absolutely perfect, and not one but two fantastic New Year's Eve scenes. That's right, we're talking about Rob Reiner's 1989 romantic comedy classic When Harry Met Sally.... We talk about how the film sprang from the real lives of Rob Reiner, his producing partner Andrew Scheinman and the Oscar-nominated writer Nora Ephron. We discuss the nature of the filmmaking process for this film and how smart it was to let the storytelling stand out front even though they could have easily brought out an arsenal of cinematic tools to use. Restraint can be a good thing! We laugh about the neverending lines from the film that are still quoted to this day. And we report on the truth of those cute old couples who pop up throughout the film to recount their own tales of falling in love. It's a magical, heartwarming tale of love, friendship, and the constant struggle between men and women to try to understand each other. Tune in and join us to start 2012 off right!
**Notes & Links**
- [Daniel Craig Interview at TimeOut London](http://rashpixel.co/Ai1RC9)
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Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind • The Next Reel Dec 29, 2011

Greetings and salutations, movie lovers! In tonight's episode, we'll wrap up 2011 and our Charlie Kaufman trilogy with 2004's Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind, directed by Michel Gondry. Kaufman won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for this film, along with Gondry and Pierre Bismuth with whom he shares story credit, and they certainly deserved this award along with every other accolade they received for this incredible film. We discuss how this story about relationships fits in Kaufman's canon. We talk about all of the amazing tools of filmmaking, both digital and practical, that Gondry and his team employ to create this disintegrating world within our protagonist's head as his memories of his girlfriend are erased. We cover Gondry and what he's bringing to the table. We also discuss the actors and how much they all bring to the table, whether its Kate Winslet in her Oscar-nominated performance as Clementine, Jim Carrey in one of his greatest serious performances ever, or Elijah Wood in maybe the creepiest role he's played. It's an incredible film about love, loss, destiny, memory and identity. Listen in as we end the year with a bang!
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We're No Angels • The Next Reel Dec 23, 2011

Merry Christmas and happy holidays, movie nerds! Tonight, in the spirit of the season, we talk about Michael Curtiz's curious gem of a Christmas comedy from 1955, "We're No Angels."
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Adaptation. • The Next Reel Dec 16, 2011

It's the second collaboration between director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, and it's another brilliant film to talk about. This time, it's 2002's Adaptation.
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Being John Malkovich • The Next Reel Dec 09, 2011

Many people consider 1999 to be one of the great years in cinema. Countless great movies released that year, and one of those was Spike Jonze's fantasy comedy about a man who discovers a portal into John Malkovich's head and the two women in his life.
This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5640170/advertisement

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull • The Next Reel Dec 02, 2011

"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is nonsensical, silly, and surreal sci-fi mumbo jumbo that amounts to nothing.
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Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade • The Next Reel Nov 25, 2011

Five years after Steven Spielberg and George Lucas dipped into the dark waters for the second Indiana Jones film, they brought the Man with the Hat back in a much brighter story and, as the posters announced, this time he brought his dad.
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Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom • The Next Reel Nov 18, 2011

Steven Spielberg and George Lucas both approached their 1984 follow-up to "Raiders of the Lost Ark" from a dark place while they were simultaneously going through divorces. Perhaps because of this, or perhaps because they were trying to create something different, "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" has always been the ugly red-headed stepchild of the series, having a schizophrenic imbalance between goofy campiness and gruesome horror.
This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5640170/advertisement

Raiders of the Lost Ark • The Next Reel Nov 11, 2011

Everything about Steven Spielberg's 1981 film, "Raiders of the Lost Ark," is iconic. From the unforgettable lines that are so easy to quote to the brilliant characters saying them and the pitch-perfect actors playing them, to the adventure and danger, to John Williams' score, to Jones' hat and whip. Join us as we start our Indiana Jones series and talk about the influence this film had on our childhoods and how it still plays an important role in our moviegoing sensibilities.
This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5640170/advertisement

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