Reel Film Nerds

Come one come all and check out our newest pod! Today Matt and Mike chat about another Best Picture nominee for this year’s Academy Awards, Nightmare Alley directed by Guillermo del Toro. Not carny related topics include Aldi, Sons of Anarchy, and hot tubs. Nightmare Alley is a beautiful period piece from about 1941 based on a carny that takes the big city by storm as a mentalist. There are a ton of incredible actors in this film from Bradley Cooper to Ron Pearlman to Toni Collette and they all do an incredible job telling this story. The only thing that overshadows the acting is the cinematography. This film is dark, mysterious, and dingy but holy cow is it beautiful! The cinematography in Nightmare Alley rivals other Best Picture nominee Dune and that is really saying a lot. Mike and Matt both agree this is a great must watch film especially since it is currently streaming on HBO Max. They both award the film 4 out of 5 Reels.      Next week we might be a few days late with Episode #262. Matt is heading o

Happy new podcast Wednesday everyone! Today Mike and Matt chat about their first theater film of 2022 the action packed Uncharted starring Mark Whalberg and Tom Holland. Not treasure hunting topics include satellite internet, PlayStation 5, and owning a movie theater for your own use. Man was it great to finally head back to the theaters. It has been way too long. Uncharted isn’t a bad movie but it’s also not a great movie. It is a summer popcorn flick released in February. The action is great and the story is pretty good, mostly. The acting left more to be desired (we are looking at you Mark Wahlberg) and as Mike likes to put it you really smash the “I believe” button a lot for this film. The guys agree this is not a rush to watch in the theaters. If you want to get out of the house and enjoy some action movie magic you won’t be disappointed. Mike with a shockingly low score gives Uncharted 2.5 out of 5 Reels. Matt thought it was a decent treasure hunt film that could be better. He awards it 3.5 out of 5 Re

Welcome everyone to our first Legacy cast of the year. Today Matt and Mike chat about the 2008 comedy classic Step Brothers starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. Extra curricular topics include Don’t Look Up, is humor dead, and sibling rivalry. What can we say about Step Brothers that hasn’t already been said. This film is an amazing comedy at peak Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, and Adam Mckay. Yes it can be gross, offensive, and downright mean but it is absolutely hilarious from start to finish especially if you have siblings. You get two forty something year old men who refuse to grow up and move out of their parents home, have their parents fall in love, marry, and move in together. Let hilarity ensue for the next hour and 40 minutes. Mike and Matt agree this is a must watch film even if you have seen it before. Step Brothers earns a perfect 5 out of 5 Reels from Mike and a near perfect rating from Matt with a 4.5.  Next pod Matt and Mike finally head back to the theaters to check out the action adven

Welcome to February everyone! For our first pod of the month Mike and Matt review a film that is getting a ton of award buzz, The Power of the Dog starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst. Bonus topics include South Park is back baby, happy anniversary next week, and the multiverse. The Power of the Dog is one of those movies that is good but isn’t good. The story is interesting but not amazing, and it is sad from start to finish. The acting is great but nothing special. The cinematography and directing are two of the best things about this film but you need a lot more than that. Matt and Mike talked at length about their interpretations of The Power of the Dog but they both agree it is not worth a watch unless you are a movie buff. The real question is why are the professional critics losing their minds over this film and how the heck is it nominated for 12, (yes 12!!) Academy Awards? The boys both agree The Power of the Dog barely earns 2.5 out of 5 Reels. For next week Mike can’t take another dram

Welcome one and all to an incredible movie review podcast! Today Matt and Mike review their first Apple TV+ Tributary film The Tragedy of Macbeth written and directed by Joel Coen. Special topics include Tool, Trek Translator, and Mike can’t talk. This is definitely not the film Matt thought Mike would ever want to review. The Tragedy of Macbeth is Joel Coen’s first work without his brother Ethan and he knocked it out of the park! William Shakespeare is a legend but man is it hard to understand a lot of his writing in 2022. The acting was absolutely incredible, especially Kathryn Hunter. Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand weren’t too shabby either. The cinematography and sets were equally amazing. It really feels like they are performing the play just for you. Mike and Matt both agree The Tragedy of Macbeth is going to win a ton of awards and is a must see film. Mike gives the film 3.5 out of 5 Reels. Matt even though he dislikes Shakespeare really enjoyed this adaptation awarding it 4 out of 5 Reels.

Hello faithful listeners and welcome to our fourth review for 2022! Today Mike and Matt chat about Being the Ricardos starring Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem. Off topics today include Southpark returns, Must See TV Thursday’s, and Mike’s dad jokes just won’t die! What happens when you pair two Academy Award winning actors together with Academy Award winning writer/director Aaron Sorkin? You get an amazing biopic about one of TV’s most iconic couples, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Sorkin can be a real tough pill to swallow. He loves lots of dialogue and jumping around timelines without letting the viewer know. If you can look past those two things you are in for a treat with Being the Ricardos. The acting is some of the best of 2020 and the story is harrowing. If Nicole Kidman is not nominated for an Oscar for her role as Lucy, Matt is going to protest in the streets! Being the Ricardos is not for everyone but it is well worth a watch on Amazon Prime. Mike with the high score this week awards the film 4 out o

Hi everyone! Well 2022 continues to spiral out of control but at least we still have our movies! For podcast 255 Mike and Matt chat about a little film they missed in the theaters last year, The Last Duel starring Matt Damon, Adam Driver, and Jodie Comer. Bonus topics include RIP Betty White, famous duels, and mullets. The Last Duel was a big Hollywood blockbuster that flew under the radar. A lot of that is possibly it’s lack of promotion. The film has a killer cast, great director, and Matt Damon and Ben Affleck teamed up to write the script, their first together since Good Will Hunting. Why did this period drama about duels and lying bomb so hard at the box office? Maybe it was the way they told the story in 3 parts? Matt and Mike both enjoyed The Last Duel a lot and recommend everyone to go check it out on HBO Max. Matt continuing with the higher rating awards the film 3.5 out of 5 Reels. Mike a close second, gives The Last Duel 3 out of 5 Reels.    For next week Mike and Matt continue with their at home

Well 2022 is here and it is starting out rough. COVID is rearing its ugly head again but let's not talk about that. It’s movie podcast time with your buddies Mike and Matt! For pod 254 the boys chat about Sandra Bullock’s latest Netflix Original The Unforgivable. Off topics include work smells, Hawkeye, and fajitas. This film is a bit of a sneak attack. There was not a lot of promotion for it, has a great cast, and is full of twists. The Unforgivable follows the story of Ruth Slater, Sandra Bullock, after spending the last 20 years of her life behind bars for murder. Slater is just trying to keep her head down, get a job, and find her long lost younger sister. Things quickly start to unravel as the layers of the story are uncovered. The acting is amazing, the way the story is told is very well executed, and the twists complete the package. Matt and Mike both agree The Unforgivable is a great movie and worth a watch. Matt with the higher rating gives it 4 out of 5 Reels. Mike also enjoyed the film awarding it

Welcome back everyone! Mike and Matt hope you had a great Christmas vacation, they sure did. For our first pod of 2022 we chat about Warner Bros latest money grab The Matrix Resurrections. Bonus topics include South Park, fan service, and dad jokes. Mike and Matt had really high hopes for this film and they were smashed. The Matrix Trilogy and universe is some of our favorite mind bending science fiction of the past 30 years next to Star Wars of course. The Matrix Resurrections did not need to be made. It does not add to the saga, it is a rehash of the original film. The first third of this movie was great mind bending, making you question what's really going on with Neo. The rest of the movie evolves into a copy of the original movie. The action was down right dull at times making the film feel really long. It is still a Matrix movie with great special effects and decent acting, especially from Neal Patrick Harris.  Matt and Mike both agree don’t rush to see this film in the theaters. If you have HBO Max a

Welcome friends and listeners to the final installment of the Reel Film Nerds podcast for 2021 and it’s a great one, we swear. Finally the last and most anticipated MCU film of 2021 is here, Spider-Man: No Way Home. Bonus topics today include Festivus, Venom, and Merry Christmas everyone! Kevin Feige definitely saved the best for last. Spider-Man: No Way Home is the best MCU film of the year without question. It is exactly the introduction to the multiverse we wanted. This is a tough film to review without spoiling it so be prepared for a ton of reveals in our pod. It is safe to say that this is the movie that finally brought people back to the theaters. Spider-Man: No Way Home is definitely one movie you don’t want to miss in the theaters. It is a movie going experience much like before COVID-19 hit our world. Mike awards the latest web-slinger's film a perfect 5 out of 5 Reels. Matt also really liked the film but found the edits rough and the cinematography lacking. He awards it 4.5 out of 5 Reels. Mike T

Hello fellow movie lovers and welcome to the Reel Film Nerds podcast #251. Today was Mike Talent’s pick and he went with a holiday classic Trading Places starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd. Off topics include another awesome movie giveaway, the rich helping the poor, and Yuengling. What happens when two filthy rich brothers make a $1 bet destroying multiple lives in the name of science? An incredibly on point social commentary comedy about worth that is still very relevant today. Trading Places is a fantastic film starring some of the best comedians of the 80’s with a little Jamie Lee Curtis sprinkled in. The laughs run from start to finish but pay attention there are lessons being taught at the same time. This is definitely one of those films that you could not make today in our current politically correct culture. Mike and Matt both agree Trading Places is a must watch film. Mike awards it 4 out of 5 Reels while Matt really loves the 80’s classic giving it 4.5 out of 5 Reels. For next week we hit the t

We did it everyone, 250 podcasts! Wow that’s a whole lot of talk about movies. For today’s pod the guys grant Leza Live and Local’s request with a review of the House of Gucci. Not Gucci topics include a new Paramount Pictures movie giveaway, cheap vs expensive, and Ghostbusters trivia. House of Gucci is a family drama on steroids. This is a wild true story about deceit, deception, and murder. Directed by the infamous Ridley Scott this film follows the rise and assassination of Maurizio Gucci, played by Adam Driver, by his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani played by Lady Gaga. House of Gucci is a great movie but it’s not for everyone. It is very long and the story is only known by those who pay attention to the fashion world. What really sets this movie apart is the acting. House of Gucci has a ton of big names at the top of their game. The actors that excelled in their roles were Al Pacino and Jared Leto but everyone did an incredible job.  Mike and Matt both agree this is a great film but it is not a must see in

Welcome everyone to another Reel Film Nerds Podcast! For those of you who are sane, December is here and now you can start setting up for Christmas! This week Matt and Mike chat about Will Smith’s latest sure to be Oscar nominated film King Richard. Not tennis related topics include losing your eyesight, crazy dads, and the new Hawkeye tv show on Disney Plus.  Are you looking to watch an inspiring film with the family this holiday season, King Richard might be for you. This film centers around infamous tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams' father Richard. There are dark elements to this story, especially raising a large family in Compton. Will Smith does an incredible job as Richard but the young actors Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton almost steal the show. The recreation of the Williams sisters truly makes you feel like the young ladies are sisters in real life. The biggest complaint your hosts have about this film was it’s lack of focus on the sisters. Mike enjoyed King Ricahrd and thinks it’s definit

Turkey day is almost here! Why not fill yourself up with a nice movie review first? For this week’s Reel Film Nerd’s pod Matt and Mike review Ghostbusters: Afterlife, finally! Not busting ghost topics include going retro, fan service, and Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Do you like ghosts? Do you like busting ghosts? Ok the real question, did you like the original Ghostbusters from 1984? If the answer is yes then you will love Ghostbusters: Afterlife. It is a trip down nostalgia lane to put it lightly. The pacing for the first half of the film is rough. They do have to help us viewers get up to speed with these new characters so it’s understandable. The cast is great from Paul Rudd to Annie Potts from the original film. The real stand our performance of Ghostbusters: Afterlife comes from Mckenna Grace. For not even being in high school she really carries this film! Mike absolutely loved Ghostbusters: Afterlife and thinks you should run out to the theater and watch it right now. Matt thinks he is jaded because

Happy Wednesday boys and girls! Today your host’s Mike and Matt chat about a summer blockbuster that was released on Netflix in November; Red Notice starring Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds. Extra pod thoughts include Dragon Boobs, Indiana Jones, and The Rock 4 President. The timing for Red Notice is either genius or a big mistake. This film is nonstop action that takes place all over the globe. It stars three of the biggest actors of 2021. Lastly the story is a cross between the National Treasure and James Bond franchises. Oh Netflix, why didn’t you release this one in May or June? Red Notice is a heck of a fun film without a ton of substance and a lot of hitting the “I believe” button. It is a summer blockbuster released in the fall that should be seen in a theater with a big bag of popcorn. Mike loved Red Notice giving it 3.5 out of 5 Reels. Matt on the other hand had a tough time hitting the “I believe” button so much. He awards the film 2.5 out of 5 Reels.   For our next pod Mike and Matt

Hello friends and welcome to our review of the third of four Marvel Cinematic Universe films to hit the theaters in 2021. Eternals is directed by Chloé Zhao and stars a lot of people, seriously a lot. Bonus topics for today’s pod include growlers, multiverses, and politics in movies. Eternals is not your typical MCU film. It is like a cosmic Avengers on steroids. All the Eternals have different powers and they work together to protect humankind from the Deviants, an evolutionary alien race of creatures. The cast for this film is incredible. There are so many big name actors that you barely get to see any of them even at an almost 3 hour runtime. There is a lot to take in and understand in the Eternals. It does tie into the rest of the MCU but not blatantly, yet. This is more of an origin style film packed with a dense story, gobs of dialogue, and a massive backstory about our new band of 10 heroes.  Is Eternals a bad film, no. It is just not as good as a lot of the other MCU films to date. Matt and Mike bot

Happy Wednesday everyone! Today Mike and Matt return to their regular-ish schedule. This week the guys hit the theaters and HBO Max to check out Dune (2021) starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Jason Momoa. Not hardcore Sci-Fi related topics include books, COVID has changed movie production forever, and living in the desert. What a visually incredible film. Dune (2021) is another masterpiece from Denis Villeneuve. It is just stunning to look at, especially on the big screen. The cast is just as incredible as the cinematography. There are a ton of big names in this film in both big and small roles. The story and it’s pacing is where this film is less successful. If you are not familiar with Dune you run the risk of getting lost especially in the start. It is a Sci-Fi epic much in the vein of Star Wars or Star Trek with a ton to digest. By the end of Dune you will be itching for a resolution as the credits roll. Luckily we will be getting part two in the near future. Matt loved Dune (2021) awardin

All good things must come to an end. The good news is that it's just temporary. Our annual Harvest Horror Fest will return next October. For our final 2021 installment Mike and Matt continue their re-watch of Friday the 13th with Friday the 13th Part 2. Additional topics include Apple, slashers, and 40. For being an over 40 year old film, Friday the 13th Part 2 is still a pretty darn good horror sequel. There are others out there but not many. The acting is rough at times and the story is just ok but the body count comes in hard and fast throughout the film. Being one of the original slasher films, Friday the 13th gives us a ton of horror movie tropes such as the harbinger, jump scares, and impossible deaths. Mike and Matt both agree if you are into horror this movie is a must watch at least once. Mike, the lover of horror that he is, awards the film 3.5 out of 5 Reels. Matt enjoyed Friday the 13th Part 2 too giving it an average rating of 3 out of 5 Reels. Next week we return to our usual shenanigans with

Let the horror continue, oh and our horror movie reviews too. Sorry the pod is a bit late this week. Your hosts are having a hard time getting time off at the same time to record, that’s a lot of time! Today we chat about a brand new soon to be horror classic Halloween Kills, the sequel to the 2018 hit Halloween. Not murder topics today include cartoons, In N Out Burger, and a surprise special guest that doesn’t talk yet. Do you like over the top gory murders and a whole lot of them? If you answered yes then this movie is definitely for you! Halloween Kills lives up to its title and then some. To Matt it doesn’t feel like a traditional Halloween movie. It’s more about murders and gore then fear or jump scarring the viewers. Mike agreed and even pointed out a few scenes that were just silly. Is this a bad movie, no, it is just not the film everyone expected. Halloween Kills is clearly a filler movie teasing the grand finale Halloween Ends that will be released next year. Mike and Matt both agree Halloween Kil

Welcome back everyone! Our 4th Annual Harvest Horror Fest kicks into high gear this week with the haunted house ghost movie classic Thir13en Ghosts starring Tony Shalhoub, Shannon Elizabeth, and Matthew Lillard. Off topics include the McRib returns, Paramount Pictures giveaway, and the Black Widow lawsuit. Seriously, this movie is 20 years old? I remember watching this one in the theaters during college, man we are old! Thir13en Ghosts is a fun, dark, and gory haunted house flick with tons of awesome ghosts! The acting definitely leaves a lot to be desired, especially the side characters. This is still a great film that is holding up well and makes a perfect fit for our horror fest. The makeup is incredible and so is the creepy glass house in the woods. Thir13en Ghosts  is not for everyone but Mike and Matt agree it is worth a watch even if you have seen it before. Matt with the shocking higher rating gives Thir13en Ghosts 4 out of 5 Reels. Mike with a full reel lower awards it 3 out of 5 Reels.    Next wee