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ReelBlend

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Welcome to ReelBlend! Join Managing Editor Sean O'Connell (CinemaBlend) and Entertainment Reporters Kevin McCarthy (Fox 5 Washington DC) and Jake Hamilton (Fox 32 News Chicago) as they discuss the latest news, rumors, and movies to hit the big screen. Every week we'll bring you movie reviews, inside looks at the news of the week, stories from the set, and interviews with your favorite filmmakers. Enjoy!

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Episodes

'Rebel Ridge' Is A Must-Watch | Director Jeremy Saulnier Interview

Filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier joins the show to discuss the making of his new Netflix film “Rebel Ridge,” starring Aaron Pierre, AnnaSophia Robb and Don Johnson. After the interview, Sean gives his thoughts on “Rebel Ridge,” Jake reviews Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and we play a “Beetlejuice” edition of the IMDb game. What are you seeing this weekend? Whether you’re making it out to the theater for the “Beetlejuice” sequel, staying in to stream “Rebel Ridge” or both, let us know your thou...

Sep 06, 20241 hr 5 minEp. 320

Christopher Nolan Movies Tier List

It's finally time for us to put together our movie ranking for the filmography of none other than Christopher Nolan. From Following, through his Batman trilogy, and to Oppenheimer, we run down every Christopher Nolan film as we work towards crowning the filmmaker's masterpiece. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium . ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube ( YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast ) for full...

Aug 30, 20241 hr 17 minEp. 319

Bill Skarsgård Went All In On ‘The Crow’ | Rupert Sanders Interview

Director Rupert Sanders joins ReelBlend to discuss his new remake of The Crow, starring Bill Skarsgård and FKA twigs. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium . ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube ( YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast ) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs ...

Aug 23, 202434 min

Fede Álvarez 'Alien: Romulus' Interview | Ridley Scott's Notes, Recreating 1980s Horror & More

“Alien: Romulus” is finally arriving in theaters this weekend, and folks, it’s a must-see. Filmmaker Fede Álvarez returns to the show to chat with us about how he took on the classic action-horror franchise and made it his own while still rooting us in the familiar universe we love. The level of detail he and his team brought to the project is truly incredible, and he goes into great detail in our interview about recreating that 1980s horror feel. We also chat about his incredible cast including...

Aug 16, 20241 hr 12 minEp. 363

Sean Wang Talks The Making Of Dìdi (弟弟)

Filmmaker Sean Wang joins our own Sean to discuss the making of his new, semi-autobiographical coming-of-age film Dìdi. We cover the making of the movie from the specific music used in its soundtrack, to its Superbad influences, to the influences pulled from his own life. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium . ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube ( YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast ) for full episo...

Aug 14, 202429 min

The Secret To Good Comedy With Director Paul Feig

Paul Feig joins the show this week to discuss the making of his new movie Jackpot, starring John Cena and Awkwafina. He shares his thoughts on modern comedy movies, struggling to get comedies into movie theaters, early audience reactions to Bridesmaids, the acting role he ironically gets most recognized for, and more. Stick around after the interview for our reactions to Deadpool & Wolverine’s killer box office run, Kevin’s spoiler-filled reactions, and what we think the MCU will look like n...

Aug 09, 20241 hr 18 minEp. 317

M. Night Shyamalan Interview | 'Trap,' Alternate Endings, 'Unbreakable' & More

Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan joins the show to discuss his new thriller Trap, starring Josh Hartnett. We were lucky enough to cover many points throughout his career, from The Sixth Sense's success, pushing the boundaries with Unbreakable, the strange nature of being a famous filmmaker, and more. Stick around after the interview for our review of Trap and our spoiler-filled review of Deadpool & Wolverine, followed by our post-SDCC breakdown. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newslett...

Aug 02, 20241 hr 32 minEp. 316

Zack Snyder Interview | 'Rebel Moon' Director's Cuts, The Russo Brothers' Return & More

Director Zack Snyder returns to the podcast to discuss the release of his director's cuts of Rebel Moon Parts One and Two. We discuss the conversations with Netflix that led to separate R-rated versions, asking Netflix if they'd let him release them with an NC-17, which of his films has his favorite theatrical cut, originally pitching an R-rated Star Wars film, reacting to the Russo Brothers' return to the MCU and more. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free ...

Jul 31, 202433 min

Quentin Tarantino Talks 10th And Final Movie, 'Pulp Fiction' & More | ReelBlend Redux

We are back with another classic ReelBlend interview redux! This time, we’re revisiting our first-ever interview with Quentin Tarantino. Recorded in July of 2019, we were joined by Quentin at the press junket for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood which today is celebrating its 5th anniversary. In this 20-minute chat, we discuss his lost feature film team-up with the Vega brothers, what it was like to direct “Bruce Lee” in Hollywood, and whether or not “Kill Bill” is one movie or more. Quentin Tarant...

Jul 26, 202425 min

'Twisters' Interview | Lee Isaac Chung Talks Meeting Steven Spielberg, Special Effects & More

Twisters director Lee Isaac Chung joins ReelBlend to discuss the making of the new legacy sequel starring Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Anthony Ramos. We discuss classic films that have inspired him to this day, what it’s like to hang out with Steven Spielberg, how good practical effects make or break visual effects, and more. Stick around for our review of Twisters, as well as a debate on the new horror flick Longlegs. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad...

Jul 19, 20241 hr 17 minEp. 315

Greg Berlanti Interview | Scarlett Johansson, 'Fly Me To The Moon,' Faking The Moon Landing & More

Writer-director-producer Greg Berlanti joins us this week to discuss his new rom-com "Fly Me To The Moon," starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum. We discuss Colin Jost and Scarlett sharing the screen for the first time, playing with the idea of faking the moon landing, and more. Stick around after the interview for our review of the film, our thoughts on Ridley Scott's "Gladiator II" trailer, and Sean's major hype for the future of the "Karate Kid" franchise. ReelBlend Premium Sign up f...

Jul 12, 20241 hr 9 minEp. 314

How Stanley Kubrick Made A Big Contribution To 'Twister' | Director Interview

“Twister” director Jan de Bont joins the show for the classic film’s official 4K UHD release! We discuss whether or not Tom Hanks was originally considered to be cast as the lead, Bill Paxton’s incredible dedication, Philip Seymour Hoffman’s comedic chops, and how Joss Whedon contributed to one of Speed’s Iconic lines. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium . ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube...

Jul 10, 202424 min

How 'A Quiet Place: Day One' Crafted Its Definitive Ending | Director Interview

"A Quiet Place: Day One" director Michael Sarnoski joins us to discuss the making of the film's striking ending, all the effort that goes into casting and directing a feline on set, plus the movie he is tackling next starring Jodie Comer and Hugh Jackman. Stick around after the interview for Kevin's thoughts on the film, our reviews of "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F," and an update on what we've been watching outside the usual movie realm. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Se...

Jul 05, 20241 hr 17 minEp. 313

Kevin Costner Interview | 'Horizon: An American Saga,' Early Career & More

Kevin Costner joins us this week for the release of his first chapter of “Horizon: An American Saga,” his epic Western story, decades in the making. We cover the earliest days of his career, including some of his biggest films and performances. The actor-director walks us through the intense process of making a 4-part film series back to back, we discuss his collaboration with Zack Snyder in “Man of Steel,” and more. Also this week, we review both “Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1” and “A Q...

Jun 28, 20241 hr 29 minEp. 312

Austin Butler Just Has It | 'The Bikeriders' Director Interview w. Jeff Nichols

Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy debut their new film “The Bikeriders” in theaters this weekend. Writer-director Jeff Nichols joins us on this week’s show to discuss the making of “The Bikeriders” and working with his star-studded cast. We talk about the energy surrounding Austin Butler, what that energy does for a film, being afraid of the real motorcycle gang the movie is inspired by, and more. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit...

Jun 21, 20241 hr 1 minEp. 311

Ranking The Top 5 Bruce Willis Films

Our very own Sean O’Connell has his latest book releasing this week. “Bruce Willis: Celebrating the Cinematic Legacy of an Unbreakable Hollywood Icon” walks through the acclaimed actor’s entire filmography and career. So we thought what better time than now to look back and rank our top five Bruce Willis movies? We are trying something new with this list. Instead of simply revealing a pre-structured list, we are taking you through the process. First, we draft up nine of his films for considerati...

Jun 14, 20241 hr 10 minEp. 310

This Iconic Line Fixed A Major Problem In 'Dazed And Confused' | Richard Linklater Interview

Richard Linklater’s latest film “Hit Man,” starring Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, is now available to stream on Netflix, and the legendary writer-director sat down with us to discuss the making of his (sort of based on a true story) film, and his career. We dive into his process of working with actors, finding chemistry on screen, the prospects of a “School of Rock” sequel, and an incredible story about Matthew McConaughey’s iconic “Dazed and Confused” line. It’s our first full show back from ou...

Jun 07, 20241 hr 16 minEp. 309

ReelBlend Redux | Quentin Tarantino Talks 'Pulp Fiction,' Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio & More

This week, we return with one of our all-time favorite interviews. Originally recorded in December of 2019, we are joined by Quentin Tarantino for an extended, 2-hour conversation spanning the legendary director's career. We sat down with Tarantino for the home video release of "Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood," so we of course spent a lot of our time with him discussing the making of the film, casting Al Pacino, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brad Pitt’s perfect casting, and more. That is just the tip o...

May 31, 20242 hr 9 min

George Miller Interview | 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' Stunts, Chris Hemsworth & More

Legendary director George Miller joins the show for the release of his latest entry in the Mad Max franchise, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The franchise has been cruising for over four decades, and the filmmaker takes us all the way back to the beginning with memories of early, negative reviews and the cultural wave that eventually grew into what it is today. We discuss some obvious, and not-so-obvious, changes to how stunts and special effects shots are made, watching Road Warrior 30 years later, a...

May 24, 20241 hr

'Die Hard 2' Is The Best 'Die Hard' Sequel | Director Interview w. Renny Harlin

Director Renny Harlin joins us for a chat about the making of his new film The Strangers: Chapter 1, the first of 3 chapters he shot simultaneously. But that of course is not all. The director has a long history in Hollywood, and we run through some of his notable projects such as Die Hard 2, his Exorcist sequel, and more. Next week, we welcome George Miller to the program for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, so be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-week...

May 17, 202434 min

The 'Big Fiasco' 'Dune 2's' Gladiator Sequence Caused On Set | Costume & Set Designer Interview

Dune: Part Two's Costume Designer Jacqueline West and Set Designer Patrice Vermette join us to discuss their collaboration with Denis Villeneuve for their return to the world of Arrakis. We get into the types of conversations they have with each other and their director when crafting their respective visual elements for the film including the "big fiasco" caused when shooting Dune 2's gladiator scene on Giedi Prime in infrared. Stay tuned, Friday brings another great interview! ReelBlend Premium...

May 15, 202423 min

How 'Dune: Part Two' Shot Its Final Scene | Editor & Cinematographer Interview

Dune’s Oscar-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser returns to the show with Oscar-winning editor Joe Walker to discuss the making of Dune: Part Two and their collaborations with Denis Villeneuve. We get details on shooting Feyd-Rautha’s introduction on Giedi Prime with infrared lighting, cutting Paul Atreides and Feyd’s final fight, and more. Stay tuned. We have more interviews on the making of “Dune: Part Two” coming! ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free ep...

May 10, 202426 min

Anne Hathaway Would Rather You Call Her Annie | 'The Idea Of You' w. Michael Showalter

Michael Showalter returns to the show to discuss his new film starring Anne Hathaway, “The Idea of You.” He discusses the origins of the film’s story, whether or not it’s inspired by Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde’s relationship, Anne Hathaway would rather you call her Annie, and more. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium . ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube ( YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast ) f...

May 03, 202435 min

Zendaya Gives Her Best Performance Yet | 'Challengers' Review

“Challengers,” from writer-director Luca Guadagnino, is our favorite performance from the ever-talented Zendaya, but she isn’t alone. Mike Fast and Josh O’Connor equally deliver to create a three-piece ensemble that propels us through one of the year's most exciting films. In this week’s show, we dive right in with our review, and if you’ve managed to make it out to the theater already, stick around for our brief spoiler-filled section that follows. For those that haven’t, hit pause and see this...

Apr 26, 20241 hr 1 minEp. 308

How The Ballerina Vampire Film 'Abigail' Draws Inspiration From 'The Shining' | Director Interview

The horror genre has been on a box office tear this year with what feels like a new entry hitting theaters every week. Today, we welcome back the director duo known as Radio Silence, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, and Tyler Gillett, to discuss their new vampire flick “Abigail.” After two turns at the wheel of the “Scream” franchise, the two bring a unique spin to their story which follows a group of criminals who find themselves in over their heads after kidnapping a young vampire. The film finds inspir...

Apr 19, 202458 minEp. 307

Alex Garland 'Civil War' Interview | A24 Taking Risks, '28 Years Later' Details & More

Alex Garland is one of the most interesting filmmakers working today and has delivered striking, awe-inspiring cinema as both a writer and director for over two decades. We are honored to welcome Garland on the show to discuss his latest film, Civil War. The cast blew away each of us, as well as the story centered on wartime journalists, and the grace with which the film navigates its controversial narrative through the real world it seems to depict so nearly. We discuss designing his set pieces...

Apr 12, 20241 hr 22 minEp. 306

What To Watch In Theaters This Summer | 2024 Summer Movie Preview

What should you watch this summer season? This week, we run through some of the major movie releases hitting theaters, and discuss which have us intrigued, which we remain cautiously optimistic about, and which we are the most excited about. It’s looking to be an impressive year! Both M. Night Shyamalan and daughter Ishana Shyamalan have films headed to theaters, Fede Álvarez appears to be returning a beloved franchise to its roots with “Alien: Romulus,” and “Twisters”…enough said. Which film ar...

Apr 05, 202459 minEp. 305

Could Tom Cruise Join The MonsterVerse? | 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' (feat. Adam Wingard)

Director Adam Wingard joins us to discuss his new epic monster movie Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. The filmmaker takes us through some of his trying experiences on set, making his monsters more relatable, Tom Cruise joining the MonsterVerse, and more. After the interview, we review the movie and dive into a spoiler-filled chat on Immaculate. And of course, a Bad Boys trailer couldn’t pass us by without some quick reactions. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and a...

Mar 29, 20241 hrEp. 304

How Sydney Sweeney's 'Immaculate' Shot That Killer Ending | Director Michael Mohan Interview

Director Michael Mohan (fan, now friend, of the show!) joins us to talk about the making of his new horror film Immaculate starring Sydney Sweeney. We sat down with Michael to dive right into spoilers, talk about the ending, and allow him to share so many incredible stories from behind the scenes. This is such a fun interview for a movie we all genuinely love, so do yourself a favor and go see Immaculate if you haven't already, then come back here and hang out with director Michael Mohan. ReelBl...

Mar 27, 202444 min

Old, Unused 'Ghostbusters' Footage Led To One Of 'Frozen Empires' Best Moments | Gil Kenan Interview

Writer, director, and producer Gil Kenan joins ReelBlend to discuss his new movie Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire! We learn about how some long-lost 70mm footage that was never used in the original film led to one of Frozen Empire's best moments, how Gil and Jason Reitman were able to pitch the film to Ivan Reitman before his passing, parenting, and more. Stick around after the interview for several new film and TV reviews dropping this week. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from...

Mar 22, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 303
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