Reel Film Nerds

Happy Wednesday everyone! Mysterious Mike Talent finally picked a film for review this week. Another Netflix Original and this one is a couple of years old. The SciFi thriller Extinction starring Michael Pena and Lizzy Caplan. Other topics include Four Peaks releases their Pumpkin Porter early, SpaceX splashdown, and what order to watch the Star Wars films. This is the first time in a while the guys do not agree on a film. Mike really enjoyed Extinction, especially the story. Matt on the other hand thought the only thing worth while in this film is the huge slap in the face twist. The acting was subdued and nothing special.  The computer generated imagery was awful, especially one scene towards the end of the movie. If you are not into SciFi and big Twilight Zone style twists you might want to pass on this film, if you ask Matt. Mike on the other hand thinks it is definitely worth a watch being only 90 minutes long and easily available on Netflix. He graciously awards the film 3 out of 5 Reels. Matt uncharac

Welcome faithful listeners! This week Mike and Matt reviewed a Netflix Original that is destroying the charts, The Old Guard. Not too far off topics include Aeon Flux, favorite Pixar Films, and are movie theaters ever coming back.   What a great surprise of a film! This one really came out of nowhere. The Old Guard is a fantasy action movie based around immortality and world history. The world building is excellent especially the juxtaposition of Charize Theron’s character Andy and KiKi Layne’s character Nile. The old versus the new shows you this unique world from two different perspectives helping flesh it out. Mysterious Mike really enjoyed The Old Guard giving it 3.5 out of 5 Reels. Matt thought the film was incredible and can not wait for the inevitable sequel awarding it 4 out of 5 Reels. We hope the guys will be talking about a movie next week. Mysterious Mike Talent did not do his homework. Hopefully, he will even though it is late and we will get something watched and reviewed for you. Thanks for l

Welcome faithful listeners, yes it’s hump day but it’s also NEW PODCAST DAY! Today Matt and Mike kick back and chat about lots of things but mostly Guns Akimbo starring Samara Weaving and Daniel Radcliffe. Extra topics include the Fast and Furious franchise, Tenet on indefinite hold, and Universal VS AMC Theaters. Fair warning, this film is not for everyone. It is a fun fast paced action comedy with lots of video game elements and millennial tidbits that has several parts that are just flat out bad. There are great lines and scenes too that are so good they will catch you by surprise. Weaving is excellent in the film in a character that should have been written better. Radcliffe does a great job leading the film as a nerdy video game programmer turned action celebrity. Ned Dennehy, almost unrecognizable, brings the sadistic tech savvy villain Riktor to life in a very almost disturbing way. Mysterious Mike really enjoyed Guns Akimbo giving it 3.5 out of 5 Reels. Matt thought the film was fun and action packed

Hi everybody! Welcome to the Reel Film Nerds Podcast Episode 179, wow really?  That’s a lot of talking right there! Today your host’s not talented Matt and Mysterious Mike Talent review and discuss the brand new Hulu Original Film Palm Springs. Not time loop related topics include AIMS testing, Top Gun: Maverick, and the infamous Groundhog Day. Palm Springs is a really fun and poignant comedy that might hit a little too close to home during our current pandemic. This movie takes the infinite time loop genre and adds a second person to the mix.  Instead of one person experiencing the day alone like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day we get Nyles, played by Andy Samberg, and Sarah, played by Cristin Milioti, going through the single day loop together. This premise leads to extreme antics, hatred, and even romance.  Palm Springs is a really fun movie that is not a waste of an hour and a half. Everyone needs a good laugh and this film is full of them. Mike Talent, always the cynic, gives the film 3 out of 5 Reels. Mat

Welcome to another incredible Reel Film Nerds podcast about a movie that is not in a theater, again. Today the boys review an Amazon Original film starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 7500. Bonus topics for this episode include Kirby T’s, Uber Eats, and piloting an airplane. Wow what a movie out of left field! Seriously no one saw this coming including Mike and he picked it! 7500 is a really great film taking place almost entirely in a jumbo jet’s hijacked cockpit. It is very reminiscent of a one man play except with a few more actors. Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes this film. He carries it almost completely on his own. The story is not perfect but it has twists and turns always keeping you guessing. Mike and Matt both really enjoyed 7500 but like most of the time Matt is more giving on his rating. He awards the airplane hijacking thriller 4 out of 5 Reels. Mike is close with a competitive 3.5 out of 5 Reels.      Are you looking for another comedy to watch to help lift your spirits that is inspired by Groundhog Day?

Yep we slacked off a bit this week but only by a day.  Mike Talent was busy with family and his new born and well Matt is just Matt. We do have a new pod for you and surprise surprise it's another Netflix comedy, Will Ferrell and Rachael McAdams latest Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Off topics today include RFN t-shirts, favorite breweries, and the infamous ASU vs U of A rivalry. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is a fun comedic romp on a topic not many Americans know about. Ferrell and McAdams are fantastic in the film portraying the obtuse musical duo. The backdrops are breathtaking, especially the shots of Iceland. The story is goofy and fun especially the addition of a Russian villain played by Dan Stevens. Eurovision is definitely worth taking time out of your day to watch. It is not Will Ferrell’s best work but it is not his worst either. Mike Talent really enjoyed the movie giving it an above average score of 3.5 out of 5 Reels. Matt also enjoyed the song contest parod

Let the new streaming film reviews continue! Today your movie gurus discuss a new Netflix rom com murder mystery, wow talk about an interesting genre! The Lovebirds starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani. Extracurricular topics include inflation, movie trailers revealing too much, and the film Independence Day. The Lovebirds is a fun witty movie with some great comedic parts throughout the film.  There are also a handful of scenes where it falls short or just flat out does not need to be in the movie. Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani have excellent chemistry especially when they are arguing nonsense. Those are some of Matt’s favorite LOL scenes and he doesn’t LOL ever. It was a nice change of pace having the film based in New Orleans instead of New York City or LA like typical films of today. The writers also paid homage to previous great films like Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut and the spy rom com Date Night. Is this film going to win a ton of awards and set records, nope. It is a fun exciting LOL movie that

Check it out everyone, we finally got a new film to watch! Thanks to Disney not waiting for movie theaters to open, you can now catch Artemis Fowl (originally slated for theaters) on their streaming platform Disney Plus. Extracurricular topics today include National Treasure, COVID-19 movie delays, and Dolby Atmos. Based on the popular books series, Artemis Fowl follows the son of a criminal mastermind, with the same name, on a quest to rescue his father while discovering a second world exists with fairies, trolls, and more. To call Artemis Fowl mediocre would be high praise. This is a rough film that suffers from Matt’s #1 complaint, the story or lack thereof. This world is beautiful, fun, and interesting but the story doesn't live up to it’s characters or environment.  Clearly the story must be great in the books since they are a world phenomenon but the filmmakers dropped the ball on their translation to the big screen. The acting was rough but we aren’t going to slam the lead, it is literally his first

Our summer retrospective on the Back to the Future franchise comes to a close today with Back to the Future Part III written and directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg.  Topics not related to time travel include what happened to fun movies, drinking, and Mike and Matt are old.    Back to the Future Part III is a great film arguably at least as great as the original.  Doc and Marty are back for another adventure in time but instead of going to 2015 or 1955 Marty attempts to rescue Doc from 1885 before Mad Dog Tannen snuffs him out. What really sets this film apart from the previous film, other than being a fun western, is it’s a completely new story.  The movie does not have large portions of the film before it to rely on.  It is a fun comedic take on a western that also pays homage to the genre.  Back to the Future Part III is a must see especially if you are a fan of the first two films.  Mike Talent awards the film a surprising perfect score with 5 out of 5 Reels!  Matt also really lo

Our summer retrospective on the Back to the Future franchise continues today with Back to the Future Part II starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd.  No beating around the DeLorean here, we really go off topic a ton in today’s podcast.  Matt and Mike talk about space, movie remakes, and the chaos of rioting in the streets on top of COVID-19. Back to the Future Part II is a really fun film that takes place in the future, well technically the past now, and tries to explain some of the paradoxes and problems if time travel was possible.  Altering history even a little bit can drastically change the world you have come to know and love.  It is fun watching flying cars, flying skateboards, and the occasional flying punch.  Did we mention Michael J. Fox plays multiple characters in this film, not just old and young Marty McFly?  Back to the Future Part II is a really fun creative film but it relies on the original film a tad much.  The alternate timeline was not a favorite of Matt’s especially how much time

Merry Wednesday everyone!  Have you ever wanted to go back in time?  Ya Matt wishes he could every waking moment of his existence too.  Today we chat about an incredible, fun, and hilarious 1980's classic Back to the Future starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd.  Off topics include Southpark, marketing products in film, and bullying. What can we say Back to the Future is one of the best films ever created.  The acting is amazing, the story is thought provoking and fun, and the car oh man the iconic 1982 DeLorean is one of the greatest props ever created.  This movie hits all the right spots and never misses a beat.  The chemistry between Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd is magical!  So magical that it has inspired the creation of multiple pop culture hits such as Rick and Morty.  Alan Silvestri’s soundtrack is pure perfection, especially the main title.  Back to the Future is a true cinematic masterpiece.  Matt and Mike both love this film with a passion, if you can’t tell, and they award it a pe

Hello fellow movie buffs and listeners both new and old. Is anyone else really missing movie theaters yet? Mike and Matt are especially some of the new releases we were promised. Fear not for today’s Reel Film Nerds Podcast Matt picked a brand spanking new Netflix Original starring Chris Hemsworth, Extraction. Off topics today include CEO salaries, the Rambo franchise, and a lengthy discussion at the end of the pod about how Netflix makes money. Extraction is a decent action film with a story that is very familiar. It is not a bad story; it has just been done over and over again in multiple different variations but better. The acting throughout the film was great. Nothing special but it was not bad either. One of the shining stars of the film is it’s location. Isn’t it nice to see Hollywood expand their filming locations outside of LA, New York, London, and Atlanta? Extraction is not a must watch for most people but you won’t be disappointed if you do. The action is very good so if you are an action buff it

Congratulations Class of 2020! This week Mike and Matt pay their respects to all the new graduates by reviewing a film that was near and dear to them when they graduated high school. 1999’s raunchy dessert driven comedy American Pie starring Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth, and Eugene Levy. Unique topics today include concerts coming back, PC culture, and high school shenanigans. Alright no messing around let’s just get straight to it, Matt and Mike love this movie. It truly has a special spot in their hearts and it definitely affects their ratings. American Pie is a fun coming of age story with decent acting, relatable characters, and a great 90’s soundtrack. It is not politically correct especially by today’s standards and some of the gags are flat out felonies now. Foreign exchange students, bathroom pranks, and alcohol fueled parties, what’s not to like in this movie? Is this an award winning thought provoking film, no. It is a ton of fun especially to those of us who were in high school during the late 9

Happy National hangover from Cinco day!!! Look we didn’t open this review with the end of the world maybe things are starting to turn around. Today Mike and Matt discuss a little known Martin Scorsese film Bringing Out the Dead starring Nicholas Cage. Not related topics include SGN, Cinco de Drinko, and Ghost Rider. Bringing Out the Dead is not one of Scorsese’s best films but it is definitely not his worst either. It is a very dark and depressing story taking place over three nights as a paramedic descends into madness while being haunted by the ghosts of the people he could not save. The three different nights feel extremely different thanks to Cage’s coworkers he tours New York City with each night. One is optimistic, one is maniacal, and one is just thinking about dinner. The film production and the acting from the star studded cast is incredible. The shots are unique and beautiful each telling a different story. This is a charismatic, harrowing, and dark film that is not for everyone especially right no

Welcome kiddos! Are you sick of watching TV, movies, and listening to the Reel Film Nerds podcast yet? No? Great, neither are we so here is a fresh one for your ear holes. Today Mike Talent and Matt checked out an independent Sci-Fi film that Netflix purchased recently Code 8. Not Code 8 topics include Zoom Meetings, the joys of breeding, and Parks and Recreation. Code 8 is a really great fun action packed Sci-Fi movie. It is perfect right now to help keep your mind off being stuck inside. It takes place in an alternate universe where a percentage of the population basically has superpowers. Oh and there are these sick robots that were created to help police the troublemaker supers. The story and the special effects are the absolute best part of this film. It is astonishing what they were able to do on an independent  budget. The acting well it's a little rough.  It is not awful by any means it just could have been better. Mike and Matt really enjoyed this film and do suggest you sit down and watch it. Regre

Is it just us or are the days starting to really blend together?  Well at least today is going to be different, we have a brand spanking new episode of the Reel Film Nerds podcast for you!  In this pod Mike and Matt talk revenge, spies, and the Green Lantern? when they review The Rhythm Section starring Blake Lively and Jude Law.  Way off topics include Shudder, buying a new TV, and washing dishes. The Rhythm Section is a great film with lots of twists and turns and excellent acting.  Blake Lively especially excels at the many different ways her character is portrayed from girl next door to junkie to badass assassin.  Jude Law also does an excellent job being the strong willed and almost hated former spy training Lively’s character and taking advantage of her naivety.  One incredible scene of the film really sticks out to your two hosts, a car chase.  It is your typical car chase but the way it was shot puts you in the passenger seat for the whole chase.  There are no overhead shots or scene setting exterior

Welcome everyone to pandemic day number ah who cares it's way too many already.  Today we continue visiting films from Mike and Matt’s past with an amazing prohibition era gangster father and son film Road to Perdition starring Tom Hanks, Jude Law, and Paul Newman.  Special topics today include genre blending, Tiger King, a movie giveaway, and bidet’s. Road to Perdition is an incredible film and a must watch if you have not seen it already.  It’s currently streaming on Netflix.  The cinematography is award winning, the casting is spot on, and the acting is on another level.  Tom Hanks and Paul Newman, in his final role, play off of each other very well especially when they switch from friend to foe.  Child actor at the time Tyler Hoechlin is incredible as the son of Mike Sullivan, Hanks, who witnesses a bit too much of his father’s work.  Hoechlin has expanded his career greatly in the past 18 years and it is well deserved.  Mike and Matt cannot give enough praise to this film. It is Sam Mendes’ second film

Hi everybody!  We hope everyone is staying safe and locked up in their homes watching movies and listening to podcasts.  Today Mysterious Mike Talent and Matt Hinshaw review a classic film from their high school days, The Stoned Age.  Bonus topics include ex girlfriends, baseball coming back, and coming of age films. The Stoned Age is a fun comedic story about a pair of high school buddies cursing town in the blue torpedo looking to party and find some chicks.  There have been some incredible coming of age movies since this film came out but The Stoned Age was a pioneer with Dazed and Confused for the genre in the mid 90’s.  The plot is fun and takes a couple of wild turns especially when the floating eyeball is introduced.  The acting is decent. It is rough at times but a lot of these actors were very young and early in their careers so you have to cut them some slack.  It is not really a stoner comedy, The Stoned Age is more about getting into trouble on a Saturday night by friends, cops, and parents.  To

Check it out a new Reel Film Nerds podcast!  I guess it’s better late than never right? With the world coming to an end and a new life for one of our hosts it is tough to be on a schedule every week.  Matt and Mike promise to continue to do their best to put out a weekly film review even though movie theaters are shut down. This week Matt and Mike review a classic film from 1985, Clue currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.  Bonus topics include poverty, slapstick comedies, and streaming fatigue, really Mike fatigue? Clue is an iconic fun comedy that everyone needs to enjoy.  The script is nothing special and it is definitely not for our current PC culture.  Where this board game based movie really excels is it’s performances especially Tim Curry.  His over the top acting is a true delight to behold.  Christopher Lloyd, Madeline Kahn, and Michael McKean also bring a ton to this ensemble comedy but Curry is definitely the star.  The whodunit story is tried and true with a few twists and turns thrown in but

  Good news everyone looks like we are back on our regular schedule again, hopefully it lasts.  The world is literally breaking down all around us but hey we did a podcast!   Today Matt and Mike start a series of streaming and classic movie reviews since you know movie theaters are all closed right now.  Our first film up to bat is Mark Wahlberg’s latest Netflix Original Spenser Confidential.  Topics better than this movie include the future of movies and theaters, we need money especially since Matt probably won’t have a job too much longer, and Doom Eternal helps pass the time when not watching films. Spenser Confidential is an ok movie.  The script is rough, very rough.  It is an action movie with some decent action but it is too little too late in the film.  The acting is fine, nothing special but nothing horrible either. The picture overall is very predictable.  There are twists and turns and whodunits but you can figure any and all of them out way ahead of time. Is this movie worth your time especial