Reel Film Chronicles – A journey in film

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…

The Adults

ADULTHOOD. Warning: Side effects may include drowsiness, swelling, loss of vision and/or hearing, memory loss, crippling self doubt, depression, memory loss, the realization that no adult ever had things figured out, waxing nostalgic for the way things used to be, trouble breathing, having to figure out stupid stuff like mortgages, memory loss, actually enjoying going furniture shopping, the uncontrollable urge to criticize younger generations, awkwardly fumbling your way through numerous social events when you’d rather be at home, drifting apart from friends and loved ones with the occasional reconciliation, memory loss, the uncontrollable urge to criticize older generations, and obsessing over those small parts of your life where you seem to have some semblance of control just for the slightest chance at experiencing something real. Other side effects not listed may also occur in some adults. If you notice any other effects, tough luck, there’s no one you can call and you’re on your own, because nobody else has their deal figured out either. Take only as prescribed. Results may vary. Join your intrepid hosts in this exciting episode of the…

Bottom 5 Films of 2023

In this very special episode, your intrepid hosts dive into the depths of cinematic disappointment as they unveil their Bottom Five Films of 2023. Welcome once again to our annual rundown of the cinematic catastrophes that left us bewildered, disappointed, and perhaps a little angry over the past year. From cringe-inducing sci-fi flops to poorly executed franchise entries, and forgettable thrillers, the bottom five list represents a cautionary tale of what happens when creative vision goes awry or when the alchemy of storytelling fails to transmute into cinematic gold. This is where, as the saying goes, we wade through the murky waters of mediocrity, and we mark the passing of another rotation around our nearest star with a grimace and a shake of the head, as we recall the films that failed to leave any positive impression on us or left us disappointed. This annual tradition serves as a solemn reminder of the diverse landscape of cinema, where not every endeavor reaches the heights of greatness, and some inevitably crash and burn in spectacular fashion. So join us, The Reel…

Top 10 Films of 2023

In this very special episode, your intrepid hosts run down their Top 10 Films of 2023. Welcome once again to our annual rundown of our top 10 films, as we review the movies that moved, entertained, awed, or otherwise inspired us over the past year. From mega blockbusters to independent dramas, established action franchises to emerging horror icons, giant radioactive lizards to famous historical figures, there’s a little something for everybody. This is where, as the saying goes, the rubber meets the road, and we mark the passing of another rotation around our nearest star with a look back at the cinematic stories that left their impression on us. This annual tradition is a way for us to take some time to reflect on a few of our new favourite films and share our love of movies with our listeners, hopefully inspiring those of you on your own film journey with a mix of the comfort of the familiar and the excitement of the undiscovered. So listen along with The Reel Film Chronicles, and maybe discover a few new favourite movies as well.…

Rebel Moon

What do you do when an unstoppable, evil army threatens your peaceful village? Why, you scour the countryside to retain the services of a small group of reluctant warriors with troubled back stories looking to make up for the sins of the past. And if it’s your peaceful moon that’s threatened, well then you scour the galaxy for your group of misfit warriors to defend you and your peaceful townsfolk. Hey, it worked for Akira Kurosawa. Rebel Moon, the latest action extravaganza from Zack Snyder, draws on some heavy inspiration from the likes of such classic and beloved films as Seven Samurai, Star Wars, and Eight Legged Freaks to bring you a story only Zack Snyder could tell. Filled to the brim with mythological creatures; sweaty, shirtless men; and broken warriors with checkered pasts looking for one last chance at redemption, Rebel Moon is nothing if not ambitious, seeking to stake a claim among the pantheon of great science fiction movies. In this episode, your intrepid hosts provide their insightful insights about Rebel Moon and whether it lived up (or…

Extraction 2

Extraction 2 is a 2023 American action thriller film directed by Sam Hargrave and written by Joe Russo. It is based on the graphic novel Ciudad by Ande Parks, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Fernando León González and Eric Skillman. It is the sequel to the 2020 film Extraction, where Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani and Adam Bessa reprise their roles from the first film, while Tornike Gogrichiani, Tornike Bziava, Tinatin Dalakishvili, Daniel Bernhardt, Olga Kurylenko and Idris Elba appear in pivotial roles. In the film, Tyler Rake is initially hired to rescue the family of an abusive crime lord from a prison in Georgia. Following the successful debut of the first film, Netflix announced a sequel in May 2020 with Joe Russo returning to write, Hargrave returning to direct and Hemsworth returning in the lead. By December, Joe and his brother Anthony hoped that the sequel would develop the characters enough to start a cinematic universe. Filming was scheduled to begin in Sydney in September 2021, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually started in Prague in November, before…

Godzilla Minus One

The smoke clears. The dust settles. For one, brief moment, it seems as though the stillness of the air could be a tranquil silence. A peaceful rearrangement of particles. That rare alignment of the cosmos that grants those most rare moments of serenity, where the world is in harmony, and the forces of nature and man align. But then, the moment passes. As your gaze trails ever upwards, your eyes slowly taking in the sight in front of you. Slowly, so that your brain has time to process the signals being sent to it. To try to make sense of this scaly monolith. This prehistoric behemoth. This harbinger of death. Godzilla. For everything there is a season, and for every generation there is a Godzilla. Luckily for us, Godzilla Minus One (like its most recent predecessor, Shin Godzilla) has emerged as a unique voice, shepherding both us and its protagonist into a new golden age. Unlike the recent spate of Hollywood Godzilla-verse offerings, which are, at best, popcorn flicks, Godzilla Minus One delivers not only on the action (which, again, unlike its…

Die Hard

“Now I have a machine gun. Ho, ho, ho.” Often imitated but never duplicated, Die Hard has withstood the test of time to become firmly established in that hallowed pantheon of All-Time Classic Action Films. Its protagonist, John McClane, the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time, has become an archetypal action movie hero, the everyman answer to the muscle-bound question posed by the likes of Schwarzenegger and Stallone. Played to perfection by Bruce Willis, McClane was relatable precisely because he wasn’t indestructible and showed real vulnerability, both physical and emotional, despite his gruff and sometimes disheveled exterior. Forever the fly in the ointment of any thief or terrorist who happened to pick the wrong building, airport, or city to steal from or terrorize (not that there’s ever a right target for such activities), McClane was somebody the audience could cheer for because despite his flaws, he would always fight to the end. No matter how many times he was battered, bruised, beaten, or knocked down, he would pick himself up, bandage those wounds, and walk, limp,…