In Reel Deep Podcast

We're back! Now that the 2022 Oscars and The Slap are history, we thought there was no better time to reanimate the In Reel Deep Podcast and highlight our own choices for the finest films of 2021. Join us as we discuss the state of cinema now that theaters have reopened and go through our top 10 lists to choose a movie of the year. The Power of the Dog, The Last Duel, West Side Story: Which one will be No. 1? The only way to find out is to listen!

Bacurau. Da 5 Bloods. Mank. First Cow. Which of those four 2020 releases was the finest film of the year? As has become tradition on the In Reel Deep Podcast, we gather to discuss our recent best of 2020 list and choose a favorite from the year that was. Also, we share a big announcement concerning the future of the podcast and of InReelDeep.com.

We're wrapping up our 2020 journey through Christmas movies with a bang: It's a Wonderful Life, the 1946 masterpiece that's both a holiday classic and an all-time wonderful film. In a slight twist for our December episodes, we get in real (reel) deep and speculate about director Frank Capra's message, star Jimmy Stewart's acting prowess, and whether a light Christmas touch makes for better films overall.

What exactly is a "British Christmas zombie musical film"? Why, Anna and the Apocalypse, of course! This little-seen 2017 genre mash-up is next on our journey through December-centric movies; is it a new holiday classic, or just a weird, fun departure from the usual Christmas fare?

It's a Christmas classic that came out in 1983, lovingly depicted 1940s pre-war holiday magic, and as of 2020 still airs for 24 hours straight in late December. It's A Christmas Story, and it's as good as you remember. We discuss which member of the Parker family is the MVP, our top 5 favorite scenes, and how this movie somehow defies being remade.

I've heard of one Vanessa Hudgens, even two Vanessa Hudgenses, but THREE Vanessa Hudgenses?! That's the premise of The Princess Switch: Switched Again, the 2020 sequel to the possibly beloved Netflix movie about...princesses who switch. The original was certainly a Christmas movie; what about this one? Does it feel you with holiday cheer, or is it yet another cash-grab mess that lazily equates Christmas with love? Join us and find out.

It's the holiday season! And we're back to talk holly jolly Christmas movies. Our December to Remember guru Sam Johnson returns as well to assign us several options for this month of wintry mayhem; some are classics and some, well, are nightmares. What are the flicks we'll be enjoying during this Covid Christmas? You've got to listen to find out.

For our very special 100th episode, there was only one film we wanted to cover: Orson Welles' Citizen Kane. Widely regarded as the best movie ever made, Kane is a masterpiece, and timelier than ever in the era of President Donald Trump. We break down its origins, its impact, and why Welles' work stands the test of time when so many other movies from that era do not.

We've reached the end of our journey through the selected filmography of Tom Hanks: 2019's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, also known as The Mr. Rogers Movie. It's Tom's first true supporting role in quite a while, and it earned him an Oscar nomination for his trouble. What does this film's success mean for the future of Hanks? And what was our favorite Tom film to revisit? Join us for a podcasting farewell to America's last great movie star.

There may not be a better one-two cinematic combo than 1979's Alien and 1986's Aliens. Ridley Scott's masterpiece melded sci-fi and horror like peanut butter and jelly, and James Cameron's follow-up is a fantastic action film that cemented Sigourney Weaver as a star among stars. To celebrate October, that classic month of horror, we're revisiting those magic moments when the xenomorph burst into our pop-culture consciousness.

The Da Vinci Code came out to great fanfare in 2006, followed by two relatively successful sequels, yet we still have no idea why Tom Hanks decided to play Robert Langdon. Best-case scenario is "nerdy Indiana Jones," and this is far from the best case. As we near the end of our jaunt through Tom's filmography, we examine the reasons why this bland, useless, 149-minute monstrosity not only made it to the silver screen but grossed $760 million worldwide. 

Medicine for goat! Our trip through the Tom Hanks filmography has led us to 2004's The Terminal, without a doubt the oddest Hanks/Steven Spielberg team-up. Tom's beyond charming as Krakozhia's Viktor Navorski, but in retrospect this was the beginning of the end of his run as a no-doubt box office superstar. Join us as we dissect why the two Hollywood titans made this film and then cringe at the idea of watching a Robert Langdon movie next.

The last time the world's economy tanked, back in 2008, it wasn't because of a global pandemic. It was because a handful of billionaires, mostly Americans, decided to rig our financial system for their benefit. As a result, trillions of dollars were lost, the planet spun into economic ruin, and few — if any — people stood trial for their crimes. Those crimes were captured in the documentary Inside Job and the drama Margin Call; we've brought self-taught financial crisis whiz Dr. Chris back on the pod to dissect how those two films depicted what might be the greatest crime humans have ever committed.

Next up in our Tom Hanks miniseries? 2000's Cast Away, also known as the apex of his storied acting career. At the turn of the century, there was no one bigger than Hanks, which is why a movie where his costars are Helen Hunt, Nick Searcy and a volleyball made $420 million worldwide and got him an Oscar nomination. Join us as we break down what makes this Robert Zemeckis survival film so special.

We've reached the end of our crime miniseries, and we're going out with a bang: 2007's No Country for Old Men, perhaps the shiniest gem in the Coen brothers' catalog. Beyond a life-changing performance from Javier Bardem and some of the tensest scenes you'll ever see, this film has plenty to say about crimes and the people who commit them. Join as we break down one of the rare Best Picture winners that the Oscars got right.

Our journey through the Tom Hanks filmography originally led us down The Green Mile, but over the course of 189 minutes of supposed movie magic we realized that it...wasn't very good. So we called an audible; not only are you getting some Frank Darabont banter but we're also returning to Nora Ephron and Meg Ryan to discuss You've Got Mail as well. Did we like it more than the much-maligned Sleepless in Seattle? You'll have to join us to find out.

Our journey through crime films continues with David Fincher's Seven, the 1995 thriller that still holds up despite [REDACTED] as the surprise villain. Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt remain a dynamic duo, and the script has much to say about the sins of society, messages that still ring true 25 years later. Join us as we dissect this crime classic while wondering if Pitt deserved his subsequent MTV Movie Award for Most Desirable Male.

Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight is one of the most successful comic book movies of all time, financially and critically. But as a crime film that was clearly inspired by Michael Mann's Heat, does it hold up? Our very special guest Dr. Chris joins us once again to watch this 152-minute Batman feature and discuss why Nolan asks big questions but doesn't answer them.

On the 76th anniversary of D-Day, our journey through the Tom Hanks filmography brings us to Saving Private Ryan. Everyone remembers Steven Spielberg's war epic for its incredible 25-minute Omaha Beach scene, but the rest of the film is just as terrific. Join us as we discuss this eclectic cast — Vin Diesel, Edward Burns, Dennis Farina, Ted Danson! — and what might be the finest Hanks performance of all time.

Does crime pay? Maybe at the box office! We're embarking on a new miniseries (sorry, Griffin and David) on modern crime films, featuring frequent special guest Dr. Chris. We'll be delving into some of the most influential and well-made crime classics of the past few decades, starting with Michael Mann's Heat. Join us as we go beyond Pacino and De Niro to discuss what makes this 172-minute epic so rewatchable and enduring.

Our journey through the Tom Hanks filmography has brought us to outer space! We break down America's Dad and his quest to walk on the moon in 1995's Apollo 13, another very solid film from director Ron Howard. It's also a terrific ensemble cast, with Gary Sinise, Bill Paxton, Kathleen Quinlan, Kevin Bacon and the Oscar-nominated Ed Harris catapulting Hanks to $355 million worldwide and an almost unprecedented leading-man run to come.

Our journey through the films of Tom Hanks takes us to 1993's Sleepless in Seattle, a 1993 romcom that proves way too beloved. What's up with Meg Ryan's Annie Reed? Why is Bill Pullman's allergic wuss the most likable character in the whole movie? And is Jonah Baldwin the most insufferable, annoying child in the history of cinema? We break down this celebrated genre "masterpiece" that's actually 90 minutes of glaring flaws and a great 5-minute ending.

We resume our journey through the career of Tom Hanks with 1992's A League of Their Own, where our rising star takes a backseat to Geena Davis and Madonna with memorable results. We discuss this stepping stone on the path to Tom Hanks becoming a true legend, the joys of watching a female-directed sports movie, how weird it is to recast all your stars with random old people for the opening and closing, and if Dottie actually dropped the ball on purpose to let Kit score.

It's time to talk Tom Hanks! This is the first installment a 10-episode (maybe more) deep dive into the filmography of America's Dad, starting with the 1989 cop/dog team-up Turner & Hooch. If you want to see Hanks shirtless and yelling at a real jerk of a canine, this one is for you. We also compare Tom to Harrison Ford and discuss what has made the man so damn affable for more than 30 years.

Pending an interruption from COVID-19, Denis Villeneuve's Dune remake will hit theaters in late 2020. But before you absorb the redo, you have to debate the original; that's why we invited back friend of the show Chris (a medical doctor on the front lines) who took time from his busy schedule to discuss the differences between Frank Herbert's book and David Lynch's 1984 feature film in great detail. If you live in the Los Angeles area and can donate personal protective equipment, please email medsupply@dhs.lacounty.gov.

We've reached the end of Quentin Tarantino's filmography, which for us means 2015's The Hateful Eight. With Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Walton Goggins in the cast, you'd expect another masterpiece. Unfortunately, your expectations would be incorrect. Join as we determine where Tarantino went wrong here, along with our rankings of the top QT movies, from No. 10 (or 9, depending on your Kill Bill preference) to No. 1.

We're back with more Tarantino! Saddle up your horse for this near-final ride through QT's filmography, one that features Christoph Waltz's second Oscar working with Quentin, plus a shockingly evil performance from Leonardo DiCaprio and one of Jamie Foxx's breakout lead roles. We're talking, of course, about Django Unchained, Tarantino's 2012 revisionist Western and a film we were more than happy to revisit.

After 79 episodes, it's finally time to talk Armageddon. Michael Bay's 1998 masterpiece has been both acclaimed and reviled over the years; it's one of the rare big-budget films to get a Criterion Collection release, and one of the true gems in Bay's otherwise-shaky filmography. Does this ridiculous, America-loving movie hold up? Do we still love Bruce Willis as world-saver Harry Stamper? And is Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" the greatest movie theme of all time? Spoiler alert: yes to all of the above.

The day is finally here; In Reel Deep is ready to crown its top movie of 2019. Will it be Parasite? Little Women? The Irishman? Once Upon a Time in Hollywood? Or The Farewell? Visit inreeldeep.com to view our list of 2019's finest films, and then join us as we decide on a true No. 1 of the year.

It's finally time to discuss The Irishman, and for once in a good long while there's "solidarity!" on And Justice for Al. Beyond all the Oscar-nominated Pacino chatter, we break down what might be Martin Scorsese's last mobster movie, De Niro's creepy piercing green eyes, and maybe the best performance of Joe Pesci's career. It's what it is: it's the preeminent Al Pacino podcast.

Joker, 1917, The Irishman, Little Women, Parasite: Which of these movies is the front-runner for 2020 Best Picture? And, perhaps more importantly, did the Academy Award nominations bring additional shame upon this increasingly outdated process? If you've listened before, you know the drill: join us as we dissect the 2020 Oscar nominations and determine where the Academy went right or (more likely) wrong.

So it's come to this: the In Reel Deep Podcast is reviewing a holiday variety show. Kacey Musgraves has a beautiful voice and seems like a lovely person, but we're not sure she should be the host of a Christmas spectacular. Is there another universe where a special starring Kendall Jenner, Fred Armisen, and Zooey Deschanel turns out good? Was this a smart investment for Amazon Prime Video? Join us as we break down this subpar singalong.

If you weren't expecting much from Netflix's first original animated feature, prepare to be surprised: Klaus might just be a Christmas classic. We break down why this Santa Claus origin story from Despicable Me creator Sergio Pablos is so special, why we wish all Christmas movies could highlight holiday themes without getting cheap or lazy, and what this very fine film means for the future of Netflix.

Disney's new streaming service has taken the entertainment world by storm; will its first Christmas movie do the same? Though it stars the beloved Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader, Noelle feels more like one of Netflix's algorithm-fueled offerings than a Santa-centric Walt Disney classic. We kick off Christmas Month by dissecting this long-gestating mess of a motion picture.

Hallmark has long been the worldwide leader in holiday movies, pumping out Christmas crap that Santa lovers everywhere eat up. But suddenly, streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime are looking to horn in on this lucrative market and steal the channel's crown. In celebration of yet another December, we've invited special guest Sam Johnson back on the podcast to force-feed us Christmas movies. What did he choose? Hint: it'll be a very streaming-centric holiday on the In Reel Deep Podcast.

We've made it to what Quentin Tarantino believes to be his masterpiece, at least if you trust Brad Pitt's final line. Inglourious Basterds is a decade old and just as good as you remember; it's the film that brought Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Daniel Brühl and Mélanie Laurent into our lives, and it's undoubtedly one of QT's best. But is it as good as Pulp Fiction? Does it deserve the top spot in Tarantino's filmography? Join us as we break down this modern masterpiece.

By every account, including his own, Death Proof is minor Quentin Tarantino. But that also makes it a little fascinating; when you're going through the QT filmography, how do you judge this random, Kurt Russell-led murderous endeavor? Is it a real movie, or just a fun romp with his buddy Robert Rodriguez that doesn't actually count? Join us as we break down Quentin's take on a stuntman slasher film.

We've leapt forward in our journey through Quentin Tarantino's filmography to tackle his latest: the captivating Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie lead a tremendous cast that includes the famed Alfredo Pacino; as such, we've brought And Justice for Al co-star Tom onto the big show to discuss Pacino's work as Marvin Schwarzs along with all things Tarantino.

We've reached a major moment in Quentin Tarantino's filmography: Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. There hadn't been a QT film in 6 years when Vol. 1 came out in 2003, and we'd never think of a Tarantino movie the same way again. Does The Bride's revenge quest against David Carradine and the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad hold up in 2019? Or was it a classic example of style over substance, with his love of kung-fu insanity taking precedence over character development and narrative cohesion? Join us, Kiddo, and find out.

Our resident Fast & Furious expert Holc has returned to break down this new adrenaline-fueled blockbuster, only with a slight twist; we're bringing it to you via a special bonus episode from Steve's other podcast, Awesome Truth! It's a pro wrestling book club that also dibs into documentaries and feature films, so get ready for lots of talk about Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, John Cena joining the cast of Fast & Furious 9, and the overhyped debut of glorified extra Roman Reigns.

We continue our journey through the Quentin Tarantino filmography with Jackie Brown, the 1997 crime thriller that is unlike anything QT has made before or since. It revitalized the careers of Pam Grier and Robert Forster, gave Robert De Niro one of his last truly great roles, and showed that Tarantino can write for women after all. It doesn't have the iconic aura of a Pulp Fiction or an Inglourious Basterds, but it's just as good. Join us and find out why.

A Royale with cheese. Ezekiel 25:17. They speak English in What? I love you, Honey Bunny. Zed's dead, baby. We could go on for hours: Pulp Fiction may be the most quotable movie of all time, and it's next up as we journey through Quentin Tarantino's filmography. A quarter-century after its release, is it as good as we remember? Of course; it's Pulp Fiction. Join us as we debate who was better, Samuel L. Jackson or Uma Thurman, along with lots of other gushing ramblings about Tarantino's finest work.

You've heard our take on Toy Story 4 and the entire Pixar franchise; now find out what a 3-year-old girl loves (and doesn't love) about what might be the finest cinematic franchise of all time.

Now that Toy Story 4 has received glowing reviews, it's time to acknowledge the increasingly obvious: the Toy Story franchise might be the best in cinematic history. Is there any other quadrilogy that has been this good for this long? To appropriately dissect this classic series, the In Reel Deep guys watched all four stories about toys and showed up (mostly) ready to discuss Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang. They've got a friend in us.

In 1992, Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs announced the arrival of a brash new auteur, inspired a million copycats, and arguably changed American cinema. As part of our journey to Tarantino's Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, we're revisiting the director's entire filmography. We begin with Harvey Keitel, Chris Penn, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, and an infamous ear scene that is still talked about today. Let's get a taco.

It took almost 13 years, but Deadwood: The Movie has arrived. To celebrate HBO somehow bringing back David Milch and maybe the greatest cast in television history, the In Reel Deep Podcast has convened to discuss Ian McShane, Gerald McRaney, Molly Parker, and everyone else who participated in this minor miracle. We also wonder if, in the age of streaming, they'll ever be a show like Deadwood again. Welcome back to f*ckin' Deadwood. It can be combative.

We're back, and we're breaking down what will likely end up being the biggest movie of all time. In this spoiler-heavy analysis of Avengers: Endgame, longtime special guest Holc returns to discuss how the Russo brothers ended Marvel's 22-movie run and how the grand finale affects Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thanos, and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

We hate the Academy Awards, but we also can't stop talking about them. In what's become an In Reel Deep tradition, we break down the six big categories for 2019, including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Picture. Along the way, we complain about how the Oscars have embarrassed themselves over and over again and continue to drift further into irrelevance. It's a good time! Join us as we dissect this blessed end to the cinematic awards season.

BlacKkKlansman, The Favourite, First Reformed, Roma, or A Star is Born: which will be chosen as In Reel Deep's top movie of the year? If you've read our best of 2018, you know it has to be one of the five. This is not 'nam, this is blogging; there are rules. In accordance with said rules, Andrew and Steve break down their 2018 top 10 lists and then pick one of the big five as the film of the year. Join us to find out what'll join Whiplash, Creed, Moonlight, and Get Out in receiving this storied honor.

There's no better way to end a December filled with movies than The Muppet Christmas Carol, perhaps the most adorable holiday film of all time. This Muppet masterpiece doesn't force its iconic characters onto the screen. Instead, it doles them out in story-centric doses and lets acting legend Michael Caine handle the heavy lifting; the result is a true gem for all ages. Come spend Christmas Eve with Gonzo, Rizzo, that cute little bunny, and the rest of the gang.

In December of 2017, we slaughtered Love Actually for being a terrible movie. We even insisted that it was not, in fact, a Christmas movie. Have we softened over the last year? To celebrate the Xmas holiday being just around the corner, your three yuletide buddies sat down and ranked every story in this beloved mishmosh. Who takes the top spot: Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant? Listen and find out if love is, actually, all around us.