The Next Reel Film Podcast

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High Noon • The Next Reel Feb 05, 2016

Show notes

“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

Show notes

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.”
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

The Edge • The Next Reel Jan 28, 2016

Show notes

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!
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

Nathan Chase & Jeremy Thompson from Flickchart.com • Behind the Sites Jan 26, 2016

Show notes

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.
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

Glengarry Glen Ross • The Next Reel Jan 21, 2016

Show notes

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.
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

The Untouchables • The Next Reel Jan 15, 2016

Show notes

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!
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

Get your Trailer Fix on Trailer.Town with Founders Joel Farris & Alex Carvalho • Behind the Sites Jan 12, 2016

Show notes

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.
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

The Verdict • The Next Reel Jan 08, 2016

Show notes

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!
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

My Favorite Year — Abraham Benrubi • The Speakeasy Jan 05, 2016

Show notes

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.
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

Boogie Nights • The Next Reel Dec 31, 2015

Show notes

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!
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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