Reel Film Chronicles – A journey in film

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1

Possibly the first western film we’ve covered on the podcast, and who better than to guide us into the genre than Kevin Costner, with his latest ambitious multi-part movie project? We give a quick rundown of Costner’s acting and directorial efforts, and our experiences with the western genre before we kick our spurs and discuss the movie at length – which is mostly what we enjoyed about the film. * Spoilers for this movie are contained within – audio warning contained in episode. * Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024)directed by: Kevin Costnerstarring: Kevin Costner – Sienna Miller – Sam Worthington – Jena Malone – Owen Crow Shoegenres: westernruntime: 181 minutes Transcript (via Apple)*not 100% accurate Hi there, welcome back to The Reel Film Chronicles podcast. As always, I’m Nathan. And I’m Brian. And in this week’s very exciting episode, we’re gonna be talking about a little film called Horizon, An American Saga, Chapter 1. That is a mouthful right there. And it is a very exciting episode, because this is an exciting episode of a movie history…

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

From Guy Ritchie, the master of ungentlemanly filmmaking, comes The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, a heartwarming tale about a band of friends bound together through an unshakeable bond: a shared compulsion to kill Nazis. Based loosely (just ever so loosely) on a “true” story (we cannot stress just how loosely this movie was based on actual events), the movie follows Superman, Jack Reacher, and friends as they set out to cripple Nazi U-boat operations in the north Atlantic to give England the breathing room it needs to fight back against Hitler’s advancing cronies the best way one can: by organizing a heist. Just a great, big, old Nazi-killing heist. As with any great heist, nothing goes to plan, until it does, then it doesn’t, but then it does, and a lot of Nazis die in the end, which if we’re being honest, is probably the best way for any heist to end. So join us as we travel back in time to World War II (not literally, of course – that’s impossible as far as you know) to explore Guy…

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Do you have what it takes to make it epic? Well, we certainly try, at least! We sing the praises of this latest instalment in George Miller’s Mad Max Saga by delving into everything that we enjoyed about this bombastic and layered action film. From the acting, the special effects, the creative names, the incredible soundtrack, the story, characters and more, we also take time to appreciate how it fits perfectly in with it’s sequel film Fury Road (which came out nine (!!) years ago. By the finish, we gave our ratings for this film, but also each Mad Max entry. This episode is not to be missed! * Spoilers for all Mad Max movies, including Furiosa, are contained within. * Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)directed by: George Millerstarring: Anya Taylor-Joy – Chris Hemsworth – Tom Burke – Alyla Browne – Lachy Hulmegenres: action – adventure – science-fictionruntime: 149min Transcript (via Apple)*not 100% accurate Hi there, welcome back to The Reel Film Chronicles podcast. As always, I’m Nathan. And I’m Brian. And in this week’s very special episode, we’re…

Road House (2024)

We delve into this Amazon produced remake of a fan favorite: ROAD HOUSE. We offer our take on this movie without the nostalgia glasses that many may have, as Brian missed the original film entirely, and Nathan watched it just before jumping into this new iteration. We start the episode giving a rundown of director Doug Liman’s filmography, then jump into the film (with spoilers for both this one and the original throughout). We’ll explore the characters, the acting, the action and visual effects, all set against the backdrop of what could effectively be a “direct to video” film starring one of our generation’s greatest actors. Road House (2024)directed by: Doug Limanstarring: Jake Gyllenhaal – Daniela Melchior – Billy Magnussen – Jessica Williamsgenres: thriller – actionruntime: 121 minutes Transcript (via Apple)*not 100% accurate Hi there, welcome back to The Reel Film Chronicles podcast. As always, I’m Nathan. And I’m Brian. And in this week’s very special episode, we’re going to be taking a look at a little film called Road House. Road House, 2024. Not Road House 1989 with Patrick…

Humane

Caught in the shadow of a cinematic legacy or stepping into the light on her own terms? Caitlin Cronenberg’s HUMANE marks her entrance into the feature film arena, and we’re here to dissect just how the threads of family renown and nepotism weave through her narrative tapestry. The heart of our episode beats strong with a foray into the film, a story that boldly navigates the murky junction of family ties, environmental disaster, governmental tendrils, and moral ambiguity. Emily Hampshire’s stirring portrayal anchors the tale, with Canadian stars like Jay Baruchel and Enrico Colantoni adding layers to this complex narrative. Whether you’re a first-time viewer or a critique-hardened cinephile, the film’s emotional and thematic depth is sure to strike a chord, and we’re here to analyze every note. As the credits roll on our cinematic discussion, we engage in the “ultimate” ratings guessing game, which you can play along with while listening. The conversation unfolds into a broader meditation on the personal journey of evaluating art, and the Cronenberg name becomes a lens through which we ponder the unpredictable alchemy…

Event Horizon

This podcast is a tomb. In the Year of our Lord 1997, a movie was unleashed on an unsuspecting population. A movie so vile, so terrifying, so violent, so gruesome that it borrowed its way into our collective conscience, wrapping its tendrils around our cerebral cortex, refusing to let us forget her. That movie was Event Horizon. A sci-fi-horror staple for those in the know, it became a beloved cult classic, even (or maybe especially) among those of us who were traumatized at a young age by the grisly imagery and claustrophobic atmosphere. Event Horizon wound up being one of those lighting-in-a-bottle (or hellfire-in-a-spaceship) situations, with a unique concept executed to perfection with an all-star cast led by Laurence Fishburne and Sam Neill on a spaceship set that looked like the design had been pulled from the deranged minds of Clive Barker’s Cenobites. Violent murders, slow descents into madness, and a spaceship that may or may not have travelled to the literal incarnation of Hell are all hallmarks of one of the most idiosyncratic and memorable entries into both the…

Dune: Part Two

LONG LIVE THE FIGHTERS. Follow the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Paul endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee. Dune: Part Two (2023)directed by: Denis Villeneuve starring: Timothée Chalamet – Zendaya – Rebecca Ferguson – Javier Bardem – Josh Brolin – Austin Butler adventure – science fiction 167 min Transcript (via Apple Podcasts) Hi there, welcome back to The Reel Film Chronicles podcast. As always, I’m Nathan. And I’m Brian. And in this week’s very special episode, we’re going to be talking about a little movie called Dune Part Two. This is a very special episode. We talked about the first Dune, no, basically three years ago now, I think. 2021. This is the second part of the Dune adaptation by Denis Villeneuve. The first one, what, 2021? I mean, everybody loved it, right? We loved it. I don’t remember…

Reptile

SHED THE LIES Join your intrepid hosts as we delve into this 2023 Netflix crime thriller – a surprisingly good (well, it surprised us at least) film that offers more than any description or trailer could provide. We’re fans of all the actors here, and we fanboy over Benicio del Toro and his burning performance here, and talk about how the film world needs more Alicia Silverstone. Reptile (2023)directed by: Grant Singerstarring: Benicio del Toro – Justin Timberlake – Alicia Silverstone – Michael PittCrime136 min Transcript (via Apple Podcasts) Hi there, welcome back to The Reel Film Chronicles podcast. As always, I’m Nathan. And I’m Brian. And in this week’s very special episode, we’re going to be taking a look at a little film called Reptile. Reptile, directed by Grant Singer and starring none other than Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake, and Alicia Silverstone, amongst a whole host of other folks in there, but you might recognize a few faces. A bunch of those people, a bunch of that guys. A bunch of that guys. Yeah. That guy, I know…

The Killer

Welcome to the world of The Killer and watch as obsessive, perfectionist filmmaker David Fincher tells the story of an obsessive, perfectionist killer living out his either his worst nightmare or darkest fantasy: his life spiraling out of control after an extra ruins his perfect shot then going on a bloody rampage to get revenge against everybody who has ever wronged him. If I were one of the executives at Fox who had anything to do with Alien 3, I’d probably sleep with at least one eye open from now on. With The Killer, Fincher continues his tradition of protagonists who are weird, misanthropic, and/or emotionally detached loners, live by a very specific set of rules, and wax philosophical about humanity’s inhumanity in endless voiceover. A self-described unremarkable man who is exceptional at his job through endless, obsessive practice and meticulous attention to detail, the titular killer is perhaps the most appropriately autobiographical self-insert character that Fincher could have imagined. With murder, mayhem, and a shady underworld of secret assassins (no, not THAT world of secret assassins), and meditations on how…

Brotherhood of the Wolf

A thick mist blankets the countryside as two riders cut their way through the waterlogged landscape, man and beast alike soaked by a slanted rain as ignorant of mercy as it was of the difference between pleasure and pain, redemption and damnation. There was only the fall. Then, a commotion. A man and woman hunted by a group of men, unaware that their role would soon be reversed from predator to prey. One of the riders dismounts, his boots splashing in the puddles, creating tsunamis in miniature. Time slows. The men turn their weapons on the intruder, irritated at the interruption of their sport, but to no avail. Even unarmed, the masked interloper makes quick work of his opponents, moving faster than his opponents can react, disarming and leaving them to wallow in their misery in the mud, and the dirt, and the rain. Always and still, there was the rain. The year is 2001. The movie is Brotherhood of the Wolf. The result is a cult classic in the making. Based – very loosely as is usually the case…