Winding his way back and forth across the expanse of Middle Earth, Peter Jackson brings us his second stab at The Hobbit with The Desolation of Smaug, the fifth film in the Peter Jackson Middle Earth Cinematic Universe. That's right, we've come to understand more of Jackson's intent with this film and its place in his Tolkien saga. But the questions are plenty: Did he best the first Bilbo with the latest? Did 48fps drive the same sense of seizure-ama as the last film? Will Tommy make any off-col...
Dec 16, 2013•1 hr 32 min•Season 2Ep. 7
We're headed back to Asgard this week as we gather The Film Board to take on Thor: The Dark World! Join Andy Nelson, Pete Wright, Steve Sarmento, and Tommy Metz III as we meticulously dissect the strange attraction we have for a hero that has no flaw, and is a god. We talk about Natalie Portman's riveting portrayal of a woman who deeply loves science. We talk about Kat Dennings and how much funnier it would have been if Michael Cera had played "Intern." And most importantly, we lavish great fond...
Nov 11, 2013•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 6
We’re on a trip to space with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney in this month’s Film Board review of Cuarón & Son’s astro-tacular, Gravity. Join Steve Sarmento, Tommy Metz III, Andy Nelson, and Pete Wright as we pull apart a film miraculously greater than the sum of its pretty good parts. We pull apart the film, the performance(s), the writing, but most of all (spoiler) we lavish unheard of praise on Emmanuel Lubezki and the stunning digital filmmaking pouring from his hands. It’s a great co...
Oct 28, 2013•1 hr 17 min•Season 2Ep. 5
The next time your young daughter asks if she can take Joy to your house on the other side of the neighborhood, the correct answer is a resounding "no." Such is the lesson from this week's Film Board subject, Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners. Join Steve Sarmento, Mike Evans, Andy Nelson, and Pete Wright as we discuss the strong performances across the cast, led by the captivating Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. We talk about the spellbinding cinematography of one of our favorites in the business, ...
Sep 22, 2013•1 hr 26 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Spoiler alert — the crew is as divided on You're Next as we have ever been on this show. Director Adam Wingard's home invasion horror romp has been hailed as "clever," "deliciously twisted," and that it "streamlines the gory stuff for something truly shocking: good characters." So, is it really the refreshing attempt to turn the genre on its ear? Or is it dumb dumb stupid dumb and the sign of the fall of civilization? Join Steve Sarmento, Tommy Metz III, Andy Nelson, and Pete Wright as they do t...
Aug 27, 2013•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 3
The Film Board gathers! It's a full house this week as we take on the latest clawed brawler from Marvel, The Wolverine. The crew agrees: there are some stunningly beautiful sequences in this film, and while Jackman's Wolverine rarely disappoints, on the whole the film loses steam tragically too early and delivers an ultimately forgettable experience. Steve shares his report on the Atmos experience of The Wolverine, which may make the film worth seeing on the big screen, if you have such a theate...
Jul 29, 2013•1 hr 25 min•Season 2Ep. 2
The curse is broken! The Film Board gathers and we finally have a movie that all of us like! It's Brad Pitt against the world's nasty plague problem on the show this week and Steve, Andy, and Pete talk about why you should see World War Z, why you should like this film, and why it's culturally far more relevant than a run-of-the-mill zombie thriller. That's right, we're cutting against the grain this week on The Film Board so check out this film and join us for a chat on Pitt and the world that'...
Jun 23, 2013•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 1
It's a Very Special Episode for this month's Film Board gathering. Today on the show, Steve Sarmento and Chadd Stoops join Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to take on the great Next Reel Crossover with Now You See Me — a magical heist film of skeptical proportions. Director Louis Leterrier takes The Four Horsemen Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco and manufactures the epic stage show. Does it hold up to scrutiny? Is this finally the Morgan Freeman/Michael Caine matchup to ...
Jun 03, 2013•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 10
The Film Board gathers to take on this weekend's new release, 42. This Jackie Robinson biopic comes with some misgivings, not the least of which comes in writer-director Brian Helgeland's script. The Board is moved somewhere between "stark and emotionless" to "Lifetime Movie of the Week" with this entry into cinema baseball-dom, with a few noted highlights: Chadwick Boseman and Nicole Beharie offer standout performances in this otherwise middling sports fare. Join Andy Nelson, Steve Sarmento, Mi...
Apr 14, 2013•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 9
The Film Board gathers to take on Disney's latest trip to the Emerald Kingdom. This week on the show, Steve Sarmento and Tommy Metz III join Andy and Pete to pull apart Oz The Great and Powerful, and pull it apart they do. Clumsy scripting? Trouble with the protagonist? Witches that can shoot lightning from their fingers throwing away everything because of a crush on a boy? All that, and we're still swept away by the magic of the final act. Listen in for why we think this is a great what-could-h...
Mar 11, 2013•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 8
The band is back together! And this month, the illustrious Film Board gathers its ranks to take on Steven Soderbergh's "final" film, Side Effects. Haven't seen it yet? Don't worry, we'll spoil it for you, but it won't matter – you won't understand it anyway. Chadd Stoops, Steve Sarmento, Mike Evans, and newcomer Tommy Metz III join Andy and Pete to hash out just how Soderberghian this film really is, the overwhelmingly satisfying performances from the key actors throughout this complex thriller,...
Feb 11, 2013•1 hr 26 min•Season 1Ep. 7
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has landed in HFR 3D glory! Join us for this special episode of The Film Board as we take on Peter Jackson's latest contribution to Middle Earth. This month's contributors Steve Sarmento and Chadd Stoops join Andy and Pete for a conversation on the tech, the tools, and the people that bring this beloved children's classic to life. Listen in! Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year Join our Discord community of...
Dec 16, 2012•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 6
The Film Board gathers to take on Cloud Atlas, the epic journey of a whole lot of Toms Hanks and Halles Berry. Join Andy Nelson, Pete Wright, and Chadd Stoops as they share what worked, what didn't, and what makes this film a passionate, beautiful mess. Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year Join our Discord community of movie lovers The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements The Film Board ...
Oct 29, 2012•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In spite of scheduling complications, The Film Board goes on. This month, Pete and Andy talk Looper starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis. Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year Join our Discord community of movie lovers The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements The Film Board Movies We Like The Next Reel Film Podcast Sitting in the Dark Connect With Us: Main Site: Web Movie Platfo...
Sep 30, 2012•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Join the goodly Chadd Stoops, Mike Evans, Steve Sarmento, Andy Nelson, and Pete Wright to talk The Bourne Legacy. We talk Chaos Cinema. We talk Jeremy Renner and the Brothers Gilroy. At one point, Steve gets so mad he disappears. And then Andy overloads the Internet. Finally, we talk about The Hobbit and the 48 fps wonder 3D future in store for us all. Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year Join our Discord community of movie lovers The Next ...
Aug 12, 2012•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 3
The Board Gathers! Andy Nelson and Pete Wright are joined by regulars Chadd Stoops and Steve Sarmento to talk through the final chapter in Christopher Nolan's contribution to the Batman universe: The Dark Knight Rises. Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year Join our Discord community of movie lovers The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements The Film Board Movies We Like The Next Reel Film P...
Jul 22, 2012•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 2
The Film Board Gathers! This week, we come together to see if Andy and Pete were right about Prometheus. Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year Join our Discord community of movie lovers The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements The Film Board Movies We Like The Next Reel Film Podcast Sitting in the Dark Connect With Us: Main Site: Web Movie Platforms: Letterboxd | Flickchart Social Media: ...
Jun 16, 2012•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 1
