Reel Fanatics

For his retro review, Jared selects Jacques Becker's 1960 prison break thriller, Le Trou. Joe champions the new Cronenberg film, Jared recommends a Netflix series, and Michael revisits a 30 for 30 doc.

The guys sink their fangs into Ryan Coogler's vampire horror-thriller, Sinners, in this episode. Jared recommends a new physical media release of a Reel Fanatics favorite, Joe revisits Val Kilmer's work in Tombstone, and Michael updates his 2023 top ten with a provocative French film.

For a new retro review, Michael selects one of his favorite docs, Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. by Errol Morris. Joe recommends a recent Criterion Collection release, Michael revisits a Tom Cruise hit, and Jared explores the oeuvre of an overlooked Italian documentarian.

Another round of retro reviews begins with Joe's pick, Truck Turner: a 1974 Blaxploitation crime film starring Isaac Hayes as a badass bounty hunter. Jared recommends a new baseball indie, Joe champions a Netflix miniseries, and Michael finds a Malick movie he loves.

We're only three months into the year, and director Steven Soderbergh already has two theatrical releases. His new spy thriller, Black Bag, is the subject of this episode. Jared, Michael, and Joe also highlight some of their most anticipated movies for the rest of 2025.

Bong's new oddball sci-fi comedy is the topic of the episode, and Michael, Jared, and Joe have differing reactions! Before digging into the film, the guys discuss the 97th Oscars results and telecast.

In reaction to recent comments by Quentin Tarantino, the guys decide to do a fantasy draft of the best movies from 2019. Was it as good of a year as we thought at the time? Jared goes for idiosyncratic favorites, Joe grabs some heavy hitters, and Michael makes a catastrophic mistake late in the game. Let us know who you think won!

Michael, Jared, and Joe react to the nominations for the 97th Academy Awards and offer their predictions for the major categories.

Jared, Michael, and Joe close out the 2024 year in cinema by revealing their individual top five films and then discussing various honorable mentions.

Jared, Michael, and Joe are finally ready to wrap up the previous year of movies. Here in Part 1, the guys reflect on the 2024 cinema landscape and share the #10-6 films from their individual top ten lists.

Michael, Jared, and Joe discuss Brady Corbet's The Brutalist, the buzziest film of the season. Michael champions a Sundance hit, Jared discovers an overlooked foreign film, and Joe recommends a visionary Oscar contender.

James Mangold returns to the music biopic to examine the early career of Bob Dylan. The guys share their reactions to this buzzy picture. Joe recommends a recent horror movie, Jared champions a foreign animated film, and Michael discusses a Dutch thriller that has haunted him for months.

Indie auteur Robert Eggers delivers a new version of the horror classic, Nosferatu! After seeing the film together—a rarity for the RF crew—Michael, Jared, and Joe share their reactions and compare it to other adaptations. Plus, Michael revisits a 2007 masterpiece, Jared recommends an animated family film, and Joe discusses the American giallo of Brian De Palma.

The guys reflect on their history with 2000's Best Picture winner, Gladiator, and then discuss in depth the new sequel, Gladiator II.

The recent release of a new cut of Caligula led Michael to suggest the guys take a look at this infamous film, which results in a lively discussion. Also, Joe soft-recommends a TV miniseries, Jared champions a new indie Christmas movie, and Michael breaks the rules of the recs section.

Indie auteur Sean Baker returns with his Palme d'Or-winning Anora, and the guys are eager to discuss this latest work. Michael checks another major blind spot off his watchlist. Joe revisits a Robert Zemeckis classic. Jared is puzzled by the release strategy for the new Clint Eastwood picture.

The new documentary Made in England, featuring Martin Scorsese, prompts Michael, Jared, and Joe to discuss the films of directors Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, including The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus, and particularly The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp.

Jared reports on the movies he saw at the Mill Valley Film Festival in October. Joe recommends a recent film from a rising Japanese auteur. Michael explores the work of Buster Keaton.

Megalopolis has finally made its way to theaters, so the guys debate Coppola's likely final work. Also, Jared recommends a new indie flick, Joe revisits an Italian master's semi-autobiographical film, and Michael checks off two more '70s blindspots.

Jared is joined by returning guest Colin Takasawa to pick out the ten best foreign, indie, or avant-garde movies of the year and discuss twenty other notable titles.

The guys kick off another round of retro reviews with one of Joe's favorites, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, a 1970s neo-western from Sam Peckinpah. The discussion evolves into an exploration of Peckinpah's entire oeuvre. Michael also talks about an older beloved western, Joe checks out an unseen Paul Schrader movie, and Jared recommends a recent indie film.

Out of nowhere comes another retro review! The guys take a look at the 1997 Julia Roberts rom-com hit, My Best Friend's Wedding, to see how it holds up today. Plus, Michael and Joe revisit two '70s cult classics, while Jared champions two new indie films.

Marvel expert Kyle Nabilcy returns to the pod to discuss Deadpool & Wolverine and the future of the MCU—especially RDJ's homecoming—with Michael and Jared. Joe calls in to share his reaction to the latest superhero movie, too. And Kyle asks an important question: What happened to John Grisham adaptations?

Michael moderates spoiler-free reviews of MaXXXine and Longlegs by Jared and Joe. Then the guys discuss the trailers for some upcoming horror-thrillers and weigh in on comments made by Paul Schrader about the horror genre.

A combo episode. First, Michael and Jared do a brief review of Pixar's Inside Out 2. Then Joe joins in for a discussion about the current state of movie theaters and where theatrical exhibition and moviegoing are headed. Spoiler alert: the future doesn't look bright!

Richard Linklater's new romantic crime comedy is the topic of the day. Michael catches up on some recent Netflix offerings. Joe finally watches a '90s cult classic. Jared describes a museum video installation piece. The guys argue over whether Hit Man would have been a theatrical box office success.

George Miller expands the story of a Fury Road character for a revenge-fueled prequel, and the guys are excited about it! Jared reports on the Cannes Film Festival, Michael recommends a new Netflix comedy series, and Joe explains his deep love for the Mad Max franchise.

It's a new retro review! In anticipation of Spike Lee's remake, Jared selects High and Low to continue the unfinished trilogy of Akira Kurosawa retro picks that they started during the pandemic. Michael watches some football-related streaming content. Joe recommends a buzzy Netflix series. Jared champions a new indie horror picture.

Is Luca Guadagnino's sexy tennis romance a win? The Reel Fanatics discuss. Joe recommends a new miniseries. Jared finishes an old miniseries. Michael reflects on twelve seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Alex Garland's new film sparks a civil war on the podcast! Joe revisits a 1980s sci-fi classic, Michael recommends a recent documentary, and Jared champions his favorite film of the year.

Does the second half of Denis Villeneuve's Dune adaptation fulfill the promise of the first? Jared, Michael, and Joe discuss. The guys also share their reactions to the 96th Oscars telecast. Joe recommends a new neo-noir, Jared discovers a '70s sci-fi curio, and Michael struggles with the work of Robert Bresson.

The 96th Academy Awards are approaching, so Michael, Jared, and Joe analyze the nominees and offer their predictions for the winners.

All is revealed in the shocking conclusion to Michael, Jared, and Joe's reflections on 2023 cinema! The guys divulge films #5-1 from their individual top ten lists, as well as some honorable mentions. Three more guests share their favorites of the year.

That's a wrap on 2023! Michael, Jared, and Joe reflect on the year in cinema and share their #10-6 films from their individual top ten lists. Several guests call in to champion their favorites.

Is she guilty? The guys examine Justine Triet's Palme d'Or-winning Anatomy of a Fall. Jared recommends the new Wim Wenders film. Joe analyzes The Equalizer franchise. Michael discovers two new dark Christmas classics.

On this episode, the guys discuss Cord Jefferson's directorial debut, American Fiction. Michael acknowledges the impressive year of Kristoffer Borgli, Jared recommends an idiosyncratic TV miniseries, and Joe crafts some unusual sports metaphors.

Bradley Cooper's Maestro is the focus of this episode. Also, Jared and Joe recommend two December releases, Michael eliminates some older blind spots, and together they discuss the demise of the cool movie star.

The guys discuss what might be Hayao Miyazaki's final film, The Boy and the Heron. Michael reports on several resolved blind spots, including classic Miyazaki works. Jared recommends two recent theatrical releases. Joe revisits a great Ridley Scott picture.

The buzzy Netflix film May December from indie auteur Todd Haynes is the subject of this episode. Joe revisits some classics while Michael fills in some blind spots. Jared is surprised by one of Joe's comfort movies.

The guys discuss Alexander Payne's The Holdovers. Joe revisits the James Bond franchise. Jared recommends a Norwegian satire. Michael weighs in on a recent release that divided Joe and Jared.

Two masters return with films that seem ideally suited to their styles. How do they fare? Jared and Joe discuss Sofia Coppola's Priscilla, then Michael joins in to analyze David Fincher's The Killer.

Martin Scorsese's long-awaited epic crime drama, Killers of the Flower Moon, has finally arrived! The guys discuss the film in depth. Michael revisits some older Scorsese pictures, while Joe and Jared recommend new movies on VOD.

Michael and Joe share their reactions to the new concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, and Jared reports on the 2023 Mill Valley Film Festival. Joe and Jared discuss Wes Anderson's Roald Dahl Netflix shorts.

In anticipation of David Fincher's The Killer, the guys list their ten favorite films about professional killers. Joe and Jared also recommend some recent releases, while Michael eliminates some 1970s blind spots.

Jared is joined by guest Colin Takasawa to identify the ten best foreign, indie, or avant-garde movies of the year and discuss a handful of other notable titles. 2023 has a lot to offer: confident directorial debuts, gems from young masters, and two films that evoke the work of Stan Brakhage!

It's the time of year for fantasy football drafts, and with that in mind, the guys undertake a sports movie draft! For the most part, Michael, Jared, and Joe all get the films they want. But who ends up with the best roster? Listeners decide! Vote for the draft winner through our Twitter post!

A giant episode to cover the moviegoing event of the summer: Barbenheimer! The guys debate the structure of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and praise the humor of Greta Gerwig's Barbie. Joe recommends a classic sci-fi novel. Jared champions two French language films released earlier this year. Michael addresses the death of William Friedkin.

Michael and Jared discuss the new Indiana Jones film, and Joe calls in to share his thoughts. The guys open the episode by discussing the ongoing WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes, the state of the industry, and where it's headed. Michael finishes watching Succession. Jared celebrates the Criterion release of a 1980s cult classic.

Once again, the guys do not see eye to eye on a Wes Anderson picture, and Michael articulates his resistance to the auteur's new movie, Asteroid City. Jared reviews a video game. Joe reads a Pulitzer-winning novel. Michael names his favorite film of the year so far.

The eagerly anticipated Spider-Verse sequel is the topic of this episode, but there isn't unanimous praise for the film among the hosts. Michael explores the work of S. Craig Zahler. Jared champions a Sundance hit. Joe goes literary.

Daniel Goldhaber's eco-terrorism thriller, How to Blow Up a Pipeline, is the topic of the day. Before digging into that film, Jared and Joe disagree on and debate two more recent releases, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.