"I’m going to cause such a terrible stink in this Third Reich of theirs that thousands of troops that could well be employed at the front will be tied up looking after us!" 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. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we chat about our...
Jun 16, 2016•1 hr 32 min•Season 5Ep. 53
"We’ve been patriotically slaving for three years to help a spy ring!" “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. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up ...
Jun 09, 2016•1 hr 19 min•Season 5Ep. 52
"Hasta la vista, baby."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. We talk about why we all love this film so much and where this movie fits into our feelings for the entire franchise, and look at why James Cameron’s entries seemingly hold up so muc...
Jun 07, 2016•1 hr 37 min•Season 1Ep. 6
"Good heavens, man, I never intended to shoot. I merely wanted to find out if it were possible." 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, ...
Jun 02, 2016•1 hr 14 min•Season 5Ep. 51
"Just you wait, it won’t be long. / The man in black will soon be here / With his cleaver’s blade so true. / He’ll make mincemeat out of you!" 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-scree...
May 26, 2016•1 hr 20 min•Season 5Ep. 50
"You still don’t seem to know what I am capable of!" 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 ...
May 19, 2016•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 49
"Isn’t it worth the loss of a hand to have created the man of the future, the Machine-Man—?!” 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 sin...
May 12, 2016•1 hr 25 min•Season 5Ep. 48
"This was, like, two corpses in three hours. I mean, am I crazy? That’s unusual, right?" 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 ...
May 05, 2016•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 47
"Is that a tea cozy on his head?"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!” We talk about Guy Ritchie’s style, why it works for us, and why some people complained at the time that it felt like “Lock, Stock and T...
May 03, 2016•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 5
"Name’s Charly, by the way. You’re gonna love me." 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 e...
Apr 28, 2016•1 hr 21 min•Season 5Ep. 46
"Be prepared, son. That’s my motto. Be prepared." 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...
Apr 21, 2016•1 hr 16 min•Season 5Ep. 45
“If you decide you’re not going to be reasonable, then one night when you come home, you’ll find me on the inside waiting for you, and that’ll be the night you’ll wish you’d never been born.”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...
Apr 19, 2016•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 4
"You ever met anybody you didn’t kill?" 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 f...
Apr 14, 2016•1 hr 29 min•Season 5Ep. 44
"They were the footprints… of a gigantic hound!" 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 Sidne...
Apr 07, 2016•1 hr 22 min•Season 5Ep. 43
"Give a boy a sense of humor and a sense of proportion and he’ll stand up to anything." 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 fil...
Mar 31, 2016•1 hr 23 min•Season 5Ep. 42
"Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore!" 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 in...
Mar 24, 2016•2 hr•Season 5Ep. 41
"We’re the victims of a foul disease called social prejudice, my child." 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 m...
Mar 18, 2016•1 hr 25 min•Season 5Ep. 40
“We women are so much more sensible. When we tire of ourselves, we change the way we do our hair or hire a new cook or decorate the house. I suppose a man could do over his office, but he never thinks of anything so simple. No, dear, a man has only one escape from his old self: to see a different self in the mirror of some woman’s eyes.” 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 ...
Mar 11, 2016•1 hr 18 min•Season 5Ep. 39
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 o...
Mar 08, 2016•28 min•Season 1Ep. 4
“You’re upside down, sir.” 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 ...
Mar 04, 2016•1 hr 45 min•Season 5Ep. 38
“When I was small, I only knew small things, but now I’m five – I know everything!”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.” We talk about the brilliant performances of Jacob Tremblay and Brie Larson and the fascinating exploration...
Mar 01, 2016•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 3
“When you’re facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?”“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 ...
Feb 26, 2016•1 hr 25 min•Season 5Ep. 37
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 ...
Feb 23, 2016•52 min•Season 1Ep. 3
“I’ve chosen to be the good guy.”“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. ...
Feb 19, 2016•1 hr 7 min•Season 5Ep. 36
“If you’re looking for sterling character, you’re in the wrong place.”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 seri...
Feb 12, 2016•1 hr 22 min•Season 5Ep. 35
“People’ve gotta talk themselves into law and order before they do anything about it, maybe because down deep, they don’t care – they just don’t care.”“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 ...
Feb 05, 2016•1 hr 20 min•Season 5Ep. 34
“I would ask you if you could remain emotionally detached, but I don’t think that’s your problem. Is it, Bond?”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, “Casin...
Feb 02, 2016•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 2
“Behold, the mighty hunter.” 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...
Jan 28, 2016•1 hr 14 min•Season 5Ep. 33
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...
Jan 26, 2016•29 min•Season 1Ep. 2
“The good news is you’re fired.” 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. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our David Mamet as Screenwriter series with James Foley’s 1992 film Glengarry Glen Ross. We talk about its transition from stage play to film, what changed, what was added, an...
Jan 21, 2016•1 hr 41 min•Season 5Ep. 32
