The Next Reel Film Podcast

### "When you’re going to kill a god, let someone else do the dirty work." Hayao Miyazaki has always had a strong relationship with nature that he’s portrayed in a number of his films, but nowhere has it grown as dark as it did in his 1997 film _Princess Mononoke_. While an animated film, the level of violence is very high and the themes are much more adult than his previous films, particularly fare like _My Neighbor Totoro_. And while he hasn’t returned to such dark films since, it’s clear that this was an important step in his storytelling and how his films look at the relationship between man and nature. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our second Hayao Miyazaki series with his 1997 film _Princess Mononoke_. We talk about the violence in this film, what our thoughts are with showing these films to children (in particular our own) and why we think there is a strength in kids seeing films like this. We discuss Miyazaki and the themes presented here, notably how mankind is left in a position that allows for growth in responsibility, and why it works for us, even if the storytelling doesn’t work for both of us. We chat about the cast, both Japanese and English, and which performances work better for us than others. We look at the sound editing by Michihiro Itô and gorgeous score by Joe Hisaishi and how well they both work to enhance the world Miyazaki creates. And we look at the yin yang nature of everything within the film and why it works in context of the Tokien-esque story. It’s a strong film with a powerful message that worked better for Andy than it did for Pete, but it allows for a lot of interesting elements to discuss. So check out the movie then tune in! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, the conversation begins. ### Film Sundries - [Script Transcript](http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/p/princess-mononoke-script-transcript-hayao.html) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OiMOHRDs14) - [Original poster artwork](https://goo.gl/images/GDfLbp) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/967DD2800C) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/princess-mononoke/) - [“On Your Mark” — Miyazaki music video by Chage and Aska](https://vimeo.com/115387039) ### Trailers of the Week - Andy's Trailer: [_The Hero_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEYSM714Vv0) — "Sam Elliott deserves to be the lead more often and this trailer made me so happy to see him doing it! It doesn’t hurt that this looks like a great character film. Count me in!" - Pete's Trailer: [_Unlocked_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMe_8TK-a4k) — "It’s Bourne, but with a _lady_!"

### "Happiness is in your hands." The role of advertising in politics is constantly evolving. From radio to TV to the internet and now to specifically pinpointed Facebook ads and beyond, it’s amazing how complex the system has grown. But watching how advertising affected the Chilean dictatorship of Pinochet and brought about his downfall in the late 80s in Pablo Larraín’s film _No_, it’s clear that those behind the ads just might understand our decision making process better than we do. And it’s downright frightening. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our discussion of the films in Pablo Larraín’s unintentional trilogy with a conversation about 2012’s _No_. We talk about how well the film works for us and how frightening and sad it really is, looking at what it says about people and the advertising machine’s grasp of them. We chat about Larraín and his direction of this script adapted from an unpublished play, and why both the script and Larraín’s choice to film with U-matic tapes enhance the story as it allows archive footage, TV commercials and the film to be integrated seamlessly. We discuss Gael García Bernal and why he works so well in this film, along with Alfredo Castro, Antonia Zegers and everyone else. And we look at the Pinochet dictatorship and what it was all about, and why it’s something that Larraín has been delving into with these films. It’s a film that works really well for us, even if we differ in opinion on the look of the film. We have a great conversation about it and feel it’s definitely worth checking out. So watch it then tune in! ### Film Sundries - Watch this film: [iTunes](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/movie/no/id653468915?at=11lrTo) • [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/No-Gael-Garcia-Bernal/dp/B00DHLL70Q/ref=sr_1_2?sr=8-2&ie=UTF8&keywords=Pablo+larrain&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1494296780) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGOcFPzx1H0) - [Original poster artwork](https://goo.gl/images/sceiM4) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/C90CB3E5F0) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/no-2012/) ### Trailers of the Week - Andy's Trailer: [_The Big Sick_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX3Regj6nAg) — "Any film in a genre that feels unique generally grabs me, and there’s something unique about the tone, feel and story of this film that grabbed me right away. It feels authentic. The romance feels genuine. The laughs feel earned. The story feels solid. I’m sold." - Pete's Trailer: [_Blade Runner 2049_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCcx85zbxz4) — "OK. New Blade Runner is looking for old Blade Runner gone missing to help him solve some otherwise insolvable mystery. I have to tell you, I’m stymied. Why are people going gonzo over this trailer? I am, alas, unmoved ... and that is more than just a little bit heartbreaking."

### “I can’t apologize. I’m not going to apologize for this. You know what I will do? I will apologize on behalf of Ernest Hemingway because that’s who’s to blame here." The Next Reel’s Speakeasy is an ongoing series of ours in which we invite an industry guest to join us and bring along one of their favorite movies to talk about. In this episode, film composer Harry Gregson-Williams joins us to talk about one of his favorite films, David O. Russell’s 2012 film _Silver Linings Playbook_. We talk about why the film works so well and how Russell really infuses some serious energy into the film, almost as if the film is expressing the mental state of the two lead characters. We touch on how Russell’s experience with his son – who’s dealing with similar issues to our lead character – drew him to this story to help make mental health more accessible, which he does brilliantly. We discuss the brilliant cast and how perfect they all are in their roles, notably the four leads: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Jackie Weaver. We look at what Russell does musically, bringing in an eclectic mix of songs and Danny Elfman’s score to help drive the story along. And we chat about how the movie blew up at the box office, making more than 11 times its budget. It’s an incredible film that seems to get better with age and Gregson-Williams brings a lot of insight to the conversation. Plus, we have a great chat with him about his career and how he got to where he is. So check out the movie then join us on the show! ### Film Sundries - Watch this film: [iTunes](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/movie/silver-linings-playbook/id1217954443?at=11lrTo) • [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Linings-Playbook-Bradley-Cooper/dp/B00BZAJMWG/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=silver+linings+playbook&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1493335125) - [Screenplay](http://screenplayexplorer.com/wp-content/scripts/silver-linings-playbook.pdf) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj5_FhLaaQQ) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/2012/silver_linings_playbook.html) - [_Silver Linings Playbook_ by Matthew Quick](https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Linings-Playbook-Novel-ebook/dp/B001ANSSDC/ref=sr_1_3?sr=8-3&ie=UTF8&keywords=silver+linings+playbook&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1493335125) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/1F9E396F6D) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/silver-linings-playbook/)

### "I’ll talk to them. I have a position now." Pablo Larraín was born when Pinochet was already in power but the military coup that brought Pinochet to power always fascinated him, largely because it wasn’t something that was discussed until after the dictatorship ended in 1990. On top of that, Larraín became fascinated by the little people who got wrapped up in big moments in history. One that piqued his curiosity was a man named Mario who happened to be a coroner’s assistant helping in the room during the autopsy of President Salvador Allende, the former Chilean leader before Pinochet’s rise. Larraín became fascinated by this moment of history told through this character’s eyes. And thus, _Post Mortem_ was born. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our ‘Pablo Larraín’s Unintentional Trilogy’ series with his 2010 film _Post Mortem_. We talk about why this film, while not as unenjoyable to watch as _Tony Manero_, still is difficult to watch, and it’s largely about the dislikeable protagonist Mario played well by Alfredo Castro. We debate what Larraín is doing here and if perhaps he’s aiming for too much symbolism in these stories with such despicable characters. We chat about the political environment in Chile at the time and how fascinated we were by those elements. We talk about the crazy Russian lenses they used to film this movie and how much we ended up liking the hypnotic look, even if it took us a while to get there. We chat about Antonia Zegers and Amparo Noguera and some of the powerful moments the two of them provide in the film. And we look at the last shot of the film and the potential power in it. It’s a really interesting film that unfortunately still struggles with an unlikeable protagonist but gets away with it because the political nature of the film and the natural intrigue it brings. Check out the movie then tune in! ### Film Sundries - Watch this film: [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Mortem-English-Subtitled-Pablo-Larrain/dp/B009D55WY2?camp=2025&creative=165953&SubscriptionId=AKIAJUN7TUKQ3P3R372Q&creativeASIN=B009D55WY2&linkCode=xm2&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK0zNJTq4uc) - [Original poster artwork](https://goo.gl/images/mRJHra) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/5353118E31) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/post-mortem/) ### Trailers of the Week - Andy's Trailer: [_It Comes at Night_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YOYHCBQn9g) — "A24 is a distributor I’m watching now and every time I see their logo before a trailer, I instantly put it on my watch list. This would’ve been an easy one anyway with the horror element that naturally draws me in. Creepy story. Great look. Interesting scares. The logo sold me but the trailer had me begging for more." - Pete's Trailer: [_Score: A Film Music Documentary_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKNC3aqkRvY) — “Clearly a passion project from filmmaker Matt Schrader, _Score_ takes us behind the scenes of the greatest film composers of our time. It’s been floating around festivals for some time, but looks like we’ll finally get our ears on it in June. Bonus: At no point do these composers spit up black goo on one another, as in Andy’s trailer this week.“

### "Knowing is good, but knowing everything is better." The Film Board Gathers and we’re pulling everyone much much too close into “The Circle.” The book was released in 2013 from Dave Eggers and the movie adaptation opened this week in theaters. Our Thugs will completely spoil it for you in this show as we explore our respective crushes on Tom Hanks, Emma Watson, John Boyega and so many others. We’re going to question everything in this movie, because depending on your preferred mode of listening, it may make you question everything about your technology choices. Our special sphere for this show includes Tommy, Andy, Steve, JJ, and new special guest host Jaime Smith as we run around the spinning thrills of _The Circle_. ### Film Sundries - [Support The Next Reel on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/thenextreel) - [Script Transcript](https://www.slideshare.net/EllisStump/script-the-circle-baileymae-scene) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C9tKfl8t0Y) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/2017/circle_ver2.html) - [Original Material](https://www.amazon.com/Circle-Dave-Eggers/dp/0345807294/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493271041&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Circle) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/D92F6DEC7F) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-circle-2017/) - [Jamie Smith at Unspoiled!](http://unspoiledpodcast.com) - [Support Unspoiled on Patreon!](https://www.patreon.com/unspoiled)

### "Once the film is out of fashion, you think they’ll still follow you? No way." Pablo Larraín didn’t intend to direct three films that took place during the Pinochet dictatorship – it just happening that way. Looking at _Tony Manero_, the first film in what is dubbed as his ‘unintentional trilogy,’ it’s clear that Larraín is not one to shy away from challenging his audience. But in doing so, is he pushing us away too? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our series on Pablo Larraín’s Unintentional Trilogy with his 2008 film, _Tony Manero_. We talk about why we don’t like this film, but look at what perhaps Larraín was working toward by creating such an unlikeable protagonist for the film. We discuss how well his parallels worked between Raúl’s world – an obsession with John Travolta’s character from _Saturday Night Fever_, general awful behavior and murder – and the world of Chile under the Pinochet dictatorship – general awful behavior and murder. We chat about actor Alfredo Castro and what he brings to the table as this despicable character. We look at the cinematography and editing in the film and, as refreshing as it is here, question how well it’s connected thematically to the story. And we look at some connections, both obvious and less so, this film has with _Saturday Night Fever_. It’s an interesting film that makes for a very challenging watch. We both had a difficult time with this one but still felt that Larraín was working toward some interesting things, even if we’re not sure he ever quite got there. But there’s a lot to talk about so check it out then tune in! ### Film Sundries - Watch this film: [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Manero-English-Subtitled-Alfredo-Castro/dp/B00C7LTV6Y/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=tony+manero&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1493080825) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaX2bavetsA) - [Original poster artwork](https://www.google.com/search?q=tony+manero+poster&safe=off&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjkkObkqb7TAhVNw2MKHTBSALUQsAQIIw&biw=820&bih=944&dpr=2) - [_Saturday Night Fever_. Seriously.](https://www.amazon.com/Saturday-Night-Fever-John-Badham/dp/B001D07UO0/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=Saturday+night+fever&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1493079350) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/8D7C74DE8F) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/tony-manero/) ### Trailers of the Week - Andy's Trailer: [_American Assassin_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAhq2QSUyXI) — "I’m not convinced I want to watch this movie, but Michael Keaton nearly does it for me. He’s hit a new point in his career where I’m excited by about everything he does. He’s not carrying the film, but I have a feeling his presence will be the draw for me if I decide to see this one." - Pete's Trailer: [_Beatriz at Diner_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCLNTmNj5bI) — "Yeah, this may be a little on the nose for today’s political climate in the US… France… UK… but holy smokes is it fun to watch Hayak go head to head with Lithgow. Pitched as a comedy, but I’m not convinced any of this is altogether funny."

### “Anyone can torture, but to break a person without harming physically, that's an art." We’re keeping with The Next Reel 2017 theme of “Let’s Scare JJ.” Prisoners tortured in secret underground tunnels! A power-crazed cult leader! But even more frightening - it really happened! This month we rewind to Chile in 1973 for Colonia, starring Emma Watson, Daniel Bruhl, and Michael Nyqvist for a film based on true events at Colonia Dignidad. We discuss the challenge of basing a film on true events while attempting to balance a suspenseful thriller with a love story. Overall it's the performances that drive this film and will keep you engaged as this film plays out the 132 days inside the compound as Lena (Watson) and Daniel (Bruhl) attempt to escape. We agree that it’s not likely to be a film we remember. Which is a shame because we agree that it’s an interesting story that people should be aware of. For a special double-feature check out April’s Filmboard for The Circle, also starring Emma Watson in a story about a mysterious cult-like organization. ### Film Sundries - Watch this film: [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/colonia/id1087687048?at=11lTo) • [Amazon](www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E4NQ67O/tag=rashpixel_mwl-20) • [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/80081277) - [Script Transcript](http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=colonia) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmvDg8PG29g) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/intl/misc/2016/colonia.html) - [Original Material](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Baviera) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/376675D5BA) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/colonia/)

### "I just knew if I didn’t start driving, I wasn’t gonna see you again." Kelly Reichardt’s most recent film, last year’s _Certain Women_, is a bit of a departure for her in that it’s a film consisting of three separate stories that are only loosely connected (other than thematically). But in this structure, it’s interesting to see Reichardt at her best as perhaps the stories each end up getting as much time as they really need to be told, at least in our perspective. Unfortunately, it didn’t find its audience and lost money at the box office. Luckily, Reichardt’s proven herself as a filmmaker who knows how to tell intimate character stories and will continue making movies. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we conclude our Kelly Reichardt series with her 2016 film _Certain Women_. We talk about the certain women in these stories and how the stories work for us now that they’re all about 30 minutes each (although we both still struggle with one of them). We chat about the nature of these ensemble, multi-story films and how well it works under the guidance of Reichardt, especially now that she’s writing the screenplay herself. We look at each of the actors, including Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams and our personal favorite Lily Gladstone, and talk about what they bring to the table. We look at Reichardt’s minimalist nature and contemplate why it doesn’t always work well for us (notably the dark cinematography). And we touch on the box office and what it perhaps says about her investors that they keep investing large amounts of money in her films. It’s an interesting film that, while not one of our favorites, certainly was the favorite of the series. There are a lot of really interesting moments throughout the film and it’s worth watching and talking about, so check it out then tune in! ### Film Sundries - Watch this film: [iTunes](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/movie/certain-women/id1157303390?at=11lrTo) - [Script Transcript](http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=certain-women) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_Lznehy2-s) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/2016/certain_women.html) - [_Half in Love_](https://www.amazon.com/Half-Love-Stories-Maile-Meloy/dp/0743246853/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&sr=1-1&s=books&keywords=Half+in+Love&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1492483923), [_Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It_](https://www.amazon.com/Both-Ways-Only-Way-Want/dp/1594484651/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=maile+malloy&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1492483899) by Maile Malloy - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/762C5AF703) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/certain-women/) ### Trailers of the Week - Andy's Trailer: [_Detroit_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5h7Kgo-zeI) — "Kathryn Bigelow’s a favorite on this show and her latest film looks to be as intense as her last several. Add in a dose of political intensity with a release that feels very timely, this could be one of the films everyone’s talking about this summer. Plus, John Boyega!" - Pete's Trailer: [_City of Tiny Lights_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I2z4YPuMZ0) — "Pretty straight forward private dick tribute: prostitute goes to a detective on a missing persons hunt. Twist? Stars Riz Ahmed who I really like in spite of that horrific _Bourne_ tripe. The look of the London in the trailer is wonderful. I can only hope the look lives up to the film’s hard boiled promise."

### "Is he ignorant or is he just plain evil?" The story of the real Meek’s Cutoff is an interesting and tragic tale in the early days of the Oregon Trail. Many pioneers lost their lives as they followed their guide, Stephen Meek, and proceeded to get lost. For her follow-up to _Wendy and Lucy_, Kelly Reichardt chose to make a film about this historical journey and the people who suffered while on it. But is her minimal filmmaking style effective for a historical drama? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Kelly Reichardt series with her 2010 film _Meek’s Cutoff_. We talk about the nature of stories told in media res and discuss if it works for a historical film like this one. We discuss Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood, Will Patton and the other actors performing here and look at what they bring to the table (and if any can top Bruce’s crazy character). And we chat about the look of the film and what Kelly, paired with her new cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt, were saying with their static shots, long takes, yellow tint, dark night scenes and 1.33:1 aspect ratio. It’s an interesting film. Not one we liked but an interesting one to look at and discuss, to be sure. Tune in! ### Film Sundries - Watch this film: [iTunes](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/movie/meeks-cutoff/id465554582?at=11lrTo) • [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Meeks-Cutoff-Michelle-Williams/dp/B006C599FE/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=Meek%27s+Cutoff&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1491877573) • [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/70148683) - [Script Transcript](http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=meeks-cutoff) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR5o8omffT8) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/2011/meeks_cutoff.html) - [Stephen Meek — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Meek) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/D6984D5099) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/meeks-cutoff/) ### Trailers of the Week - Andy's Trailer: [_Thor: Ragnarok_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7MGUNV8MxU) — "I’ve been excited about this Marvel movie ever since they announced Taika Waititi as its director. They’ve managed to keep Thor’s sense of humor in here, a healthy dose of _Guardians of the Galaxy_ vibe running all through it, plus an arena battle with gladiator Hulk! Goth Cate Blanchett! Disco Jeff Goldblum! It’s insane in all the right ways – count me in!" - Pete's Trailer: [_The Journey_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc3jqf4cdfc) — "A road movie telling the story of Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness compressing what I believe was a 20 year drive toward peace in Northern Ireland. Much controversy about this film as a reenactment, but just maybe in spite of inaccuracies, it’s the kind of movie we need just now? Timothy Spall looks damned amazing as Paisley."

### "Don’t be a nuisance. We don’t need that." Kelly Reichardt has been called a minimalist film director, and if you’re comparing her to someone like Michael Bay or Steven Spielberg or the Hughes brothers, that certainly seems to be the case, at least based on her 2008 film _Wendy and Lucy_. This film doesn’t have a lot of pizazz or a large cinematic sense. What it does have, though, is a character study in which we dig deeply into our protagonist during a difficult few days in her life. In that aspect, it isn’t minimal at all. Perhaps calling it incredibly focused would be a better way to describe it. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off a new series on director Kelly Reichardt with her 2008 lost dog film _Wendy and Lucy_. We talk about this ‘minimalist’ type of filmmaking and how it fits into the larger context of filmed stories that we know and love. We talk about how the story came about and was developed by Reichardt and writer Jon Raymond. We discuss Michelle Williams and her incredible (and incredibly internal) performance as Wendy, and how inadvertently she’s in all three of Reichardt’s films that we’re discussing in this series. We also chat about other actors in the film like Will Patton, Will Oldham, Wally Dalton and John Robinson and what they bring to the table. We look at the cinematography by Sam Levy and chat about what it brings to this story, notably the ‘naturalistic’ grainy and dark scenes. And we touch on the sound design and how Reichardt chose to use train sounds instead of score throughout the film. It’s a touching film yet one we oddly aren’t sure we’d return to anytime soon, but certainly is one well worth talking about. Check out this movie then tune in to the show! ### Film Sundries - Watch this film: [iTunes](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/movie/wendy-and-lucy/id487807890?at=11lrTo) • [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Lucy-Michelle-Williams/dp/B0029DV2OE/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=wendy+and+lucy&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1491088762) - [Script Transcript](http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=wendy-and-lucy) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pASs3rerRCY) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/2008/wendy_and_lucy.html) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/819E0E8C21) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/wendy-and-lucy/) ### Trailers of the Week - Andy's Trailer: [_Ingrid Goes West_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-4euCXv06o) — "Aubrey Plaza seems to carry the balance between comedy and insanity quite well as demonstrated here. This looks darkly hilarious, if one can laugh at mental instability. Add in Elizabeth Olsen and O’Shea Jackson Jr., you’ve got what looks to be an awesome movie." - Pete's Trailer: [_Black Butterfly_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaOymYQ3nMM) — "A remake of _Papillon Noir_ starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Antonio Banderas. It’s a _Misery_ trailer that ducks subtlety and goes completely haywire too soon for my tastes, but I’m a sucker for ‘I’m a writer…’ stories so I’ll give this one a shot."

### "Stay on the path." Right from the start, it was clear that Albert and Allen Hughes knew how to put films together. Whether paying homage to filmmakers they admire or playing with their own showy techniques, they know how to play with the visual tools they have available. In their post-apocalyptic film _The Book of Eli_, they make a very compelling film that’s exciting and entertaining while still maintaining the visceral edge they love to employ. But sadly, it’s the last film they worked on together, having since parted ways as filmmakers. Will they reunite down the road? Who knows. Will they increase their output now that they’re working solo? Not so far. Time will tell, but for now, this stands as the final Hughes Brothers film. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we close the chapter on our Hughes Brothers series with their 2010 film _The Book of Eli_. We talk about the incredible world the brothers create with this film and how fascinating it is, and how unfortunately it’s weighed down by a huge issue that neither of us can buy into. We talk about Gary Whitta’s script, how it was found and what some of our other problems are with it – though still celebrating the great elements in it too. We discuss Denzel in his fabulous performance here, even if one element of it still is our biggest problem. We also talk about the rest of the cast and how well they work in the film here. We celebrate the look of the film and all of the team who helped bring it to fruition. And we tip our hat to the fantastic camerawork, stunt work and sound work that came together to bring some incredible fight sequences to life. We have some issues with this film to be sure, but it’s still a completely engrossing film to watch that we have a great time with. It’s probably not for everyone but for anyone who is a fan of dystopian stories, it’s worth the watch. We have a great time chatting about it as we wrap up this series. Check it out then tune in! ### Film Sundries - Watch this film: [iTunes](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-book-of-eli/id357620152?at=11lrTo) • [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Book-Eli-Denzel-Washington/dp/B003KRLKHC/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=the+book+of+eli&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1491085024) - [Script Transcript](http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Book-of-Eli,-The.html) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRZPU99DMKg) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/2010/book_of_eli.html) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/B2FE1C1FA9) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-book-of-eli/) ### Trailers of the Week - Andy's Trailer: [_Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jit3YhGx5pU) — "Frances McDormand has proven herself to be a powerhouse actress before, but in this trailer, she’s kicking ass and taking names. Martin McDonagh makes films with incredible characters and it looks like he’s at it again here. Plus, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell and Peter Dinklage! I’m totally in!" - Pete's Trailer: [_The Book of Henry_](https://youtu.be/jb4s4sAncNc) — "Man, did this trailer ever take off in a direction I wasn’t expecting. Excited to see Jacob Tremblay in just about anything again, but that he ends up in another strong mother/son thriller? I guess that should be expected."

### "No man amongst you is fit to judge the mighty art that I have wrought." The Hughes brothers hadn’t really had a big hit by the time they were offered to direct the adaptation of Alan Moore’s and Eddie Campbell’s graphic novel “From Hell,” detailing the characters involved in the ‘Jack the Ripper’ slayings in 1888 London. It offered an opportunity to tell a gritty story that still dealt with the people struggling at the bottom of society, something they’d already proved successful at. But the graphic novel’s incredibly dense and despite the many rewrites the script went through, it still ended up a film that is hard to call a great success for the brothers. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our series on the Hughes brothers with their 2001 film _From Hell_. We look at the film and our thoughts on both the good and bad elements of it, and discuss the graphic novel and how by its very nature was not an easy thing to adapt. We discuss Albert and Allen and some of the decisions they made going into this film. We talk about the cast and why some of them work better than others (Heather Graham is definitely the one who stands out as a sore thumb unfortunately). We chat about the cinematography and the film technique they used to achieve the fascinating dream sequences. And we discuss Trevor Jones score and how well it works, as well as how it felt like there were sequences that needed score that didn’t get any. It’s a fascinating film, if not as successful as we’d have liked it to be. Perhaps a longer tale told would work better? Who knows. Until that happens, though, check this one out then tune in! ### Film Sundries - Watch this film: [iTunes](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/movie/from-hell/id274251521?at=11lrTo) • [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Hell-Johnny-Depp/dp/B000I9X6CW/ref=sr_1_2?sr=8-2&ie=UTF8&keywords=from+hell&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1488858296) - [Script Transcript](http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/f/from-hell-script-transcript-depp.html) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-UL3V15E8s) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/2001/from_hell_ver1.html) - [_From Hell_ by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell](https://www.amazon.com/Hell-Alan-Moore/dp/0958578346/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=from+hell&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1488858260) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/91A36B7C14) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/from-hell/) - [Original From Hell Letter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_Hell_letter) ### Trailers of the Week - Andy's Trailer: [_Carrie Pilby_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_XOCWC2q8U) — "I don’t know if this will be any good, but I like the quirky characters and the overall vibe of the trailer. Plus Nathan Lane and Gabriel Byrne? I want to see it just for them. Here’s hoping it’s worth it." - Pete's Trailer: [_War Machine_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oNDUh2y8es) — "So, I guess we know where Netflix is spending all it’s money. Brad Pitt this time in a satire of America in Afghanistan from the top down. What’s the deal with his hand? Crazy cast: Brad as Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Tilda, Anthony Michael, Lakeith, Ben, Topher, and ‘he’ll keep calling me, and calling me, and calling me…’ Alan. Got ‘em all? Before it comes out, go read _The Operators._"

### "Being a black man in America isn’t easy. The hunt is on and you’re the prey." When 20-year-old twin brothers Albert and Allen Hughes directed their first feature film in 1993, _Menace II Society_, they immediately showed audiences everywhere that they were storytellers who weren’t afraid to tell risky stories and filmmakers who understood the language of the medium. The film seemed dangerous. It was vicious. Gritty. Brutal. And it was authentic, which perhaps is the greatest testament to what these young filmmakers set out to do. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our Hughes Brothers series with their 1993 debut, _Menace II Society_. We talk about the energy they bring to the film (with a lot of homages to Scorsese) and how that energy drives home the message of the film. We look at how the Hughes brothers got their start and got to this place where they were making this film. We discuss the actors – from Tyrin Turner to Larenz Tate, from Jada Pinkett (and her baggy clothes) to MC Eiht, and from Samuel L. Jackson and Bill Duke to Charles S. Dutton – and look at what they bring to the table. We touch on the cinematography that Lisa Rinzler lenses for the film here, working with the Hughes brothers to bring their vibrant world to life. And we talk about how well this film did for itself in ’93. It’s a fantastic film that definitely has held up some 24 years after its release. It has the same vitality and energy that it did back then and warrants a watch. Check it out then tune in! ### Film Sundries - Watch this film: [iTunes](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/movie/menace-ii-society-directors-cut/id645196574?at=11lrTo) • [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Menace-II-Society-Tyrin-Turner/dp/B00GJBDDMG/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=menace+ii+society&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1488339754) • [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/754174) - [Script Transcript](http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=menace-ii-society) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHle3FQbWmw) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/1993/menace_ii_society.html) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/70E6277532) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/menace-ii-society/) ### Trailers of the Week - Andy's Trailer: [_Here Alone_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBflhu69hS0) — "Are they zombies? Or just sick people? I don’t care. It’s got a great look and feel and I want to see it." - Pete's Trailer: [_Song to Song_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rwv6wdGUjA) — "That’s right, Andy and I were _just_ talking about how we aren’t all that crazy about Terrence Malick films when this comes along. Maybe the setting in and around the music scene will make it easier to swallow? The cast certainly doesn't hurt."

### "The situation in Sweden must be real bad as even lice have begun to emigrate to America." It’s time for our first 2017 Listener’s Choice episode! Pony Prize winner Finn Frode, who’s from Norway but living in Sweden, won and selected a Swedish film with one of his favorite Norwegian actresses – Liv Ullmann. The film he selected is the first half of Jan Troell’s epic tale of immigration – 1971’s _The Emigrants_. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we dig into our latest listener’s choice film. We talk about the importance of the film in Sweden and how the books upon which it’s based are perceived there. We discuss the nature of this film and how it’s quite powerful, but at the same time a difficult film to watch due to its filming style, the story it’s telling and its duration. We chat about the actors – notably Max Von Sydow and Ullmann – and what they’re bringing to table. And we hit on the strange and dischordant music and how it works in a film like this. It’s a great film and certainly put us both in a place where we were ready to watch the follow-up. So check out this movie then tune in! ### Film Sundries - Watch this film: [iTunes](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-emigrants/id375065677?at=11lrTo) • [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Emigrants-Max-von-Sydow/dp/B01E5B2N54/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=the+emigrants&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1488254177) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QfS0FlLQmE) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/1971/emigrants.html) - [_The Emigrants Novels: Book 1_ by Vilhelm Moberg](https://www.amazon.com/Emigrants-Emigrant-Novels-Book/dp/0873513193/ref=sr_1_2?sr=8-2&ie=UTF8&keywords=the+emigrants&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1488254299) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/0FD54B77CE) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-emigrants/) - [_The New Land_ Theme by John Denver](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDeLnVVXK1Y) ### Trailers of the Week - Andy's Trailer: [_The Bride_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9SO72sNo1s) — "I don’t know what to make of this crazy Russian film. The trailer seems to tell two stories, but perhaps one of those is just the actual film’s prologue? Who knows but it looks nuts, and don’t expect any help from the terrible synopses written on IMDb or Wikipedia. I think I want to see this just to see if it’s as much a mess as this trailer makes it look." - Pete's Trailer: [_Bright_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efpHs0ERE40) — "Yeah, I didn’t need to see the trailer after I’d read that Taron Edgerton would be playing _the first Orc cop_, but then I watched it. Did you catch Noomi in blue (skin)? Another hot Netflix get for December."

### "Don’t be what they make you to be" Back to Back Film Board weeks! We couldn’t let this one go by - Marvel comics movies are continuing to find their graphic stride this month with LOGAN and our thugs need to get in the fight and mix it up about the value of a hard “R” comic representation in the cinematic universe. It’s not spoilery to talk about the completely appropriate rating this movie drew, but in addition to that, we will spoil the story and theorize what it means for the Marvel mutants’ present and future. We continue to keep our own lineup fresh on this show with Steve, Pete, JJ and another awesome appearance from special guest host Darnell Smith. Listening to this episode will help you decide whether you should get over your comic book movie apathy, embrace de-sensitization to knife (Claw) gore, and/or slice your way to this movie before the Ides of March. If you don’t want to be thoroughly spoiled, come back and listen after you see it once your healing factor kicks in. When the move ends, our conversation begins! ### Film Sundries - [Script Transcript (one page)](http://www.polygon.com/2016/10/5/13174168/wolverine-3-logan) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Div0iP65aZo) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/2017/logan.html) - [Original Material](https://www.amazon.com/Wolverine-Old-Logan-Mark-Millar/dp/1302904639/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=Old+man+logan&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1488665141) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/3769148CB7) - [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/logan-2017/) - [Comic Book Composite Rankings](http://comicbook.com/list/comicbook-com-composite-rankings-comic-book-movies-?Page=1)