The Next Reel Film Podcast

With the creation of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki and the other filmmakers involved had created a place where they could create the films they wanted to make. With “My Neighbor Totoro,” Miyazaki’s third feature film and second he directed under the Ghibli banner, it was crystal clear what Miyazaki wanted to bring forth from his films — the relationship between man and nature, the purity and innocence of youth and the imaginative look at characters who didn’t quite fit the world as we know it. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our brief Miyazaki series with his 1988 film, “My Neighbor Totoro.” We discuss the elements of this film that we like so much, particularly the pacing and whether one could call it boring or not (note: neither of us do). We talk about the simplicity of the story but how through that simplicity there are some large ideas being dealt with. We chat about the voice cast and how the current English dub works for us, commenting on the problems people on Amazon have with it (despite the fact that an animated film is ALWAYS going to be dubbed, even in its original language). And we talk about the nature of the forest spirits and how we them through the eyes of children. It’s a beautiful, touching, quirky film that we love and are thrilled to talk about on the show. Tune in!

The Film Board Gathers! … around a long mysterious table high in a castle above the clouds to take on the biggest issues of the day — certainly the biggest at the box office right now: Sam Mendes’ latest entry in the life of our favorite spy, “SPECTRE.” How does Bond 25 stack up in Daniel Craig’s catalog? How important is it that Bond is moving from serial to series? What’s the deal with Bond Girls anyway? This month we welcome back Chadd Stoops to the gang, along with Justin Jaeger, Andy Nelson, and Pete Wright as we take on the art and action of James Bond.

Hayao Miyazaki began his career with television and it was the show “Lupin III” that gave him the chance to direct both for the small screen as well as for the big screen with the second story about Lupin the Third in 1979. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we begin our short Hayao Miyazaki series with his first theatrical feature film, _Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro_. We talk about the history of the character of Lupin III in Monkey Punch’s original manga series, in the TV series and its films, as well as in the Arsène Lupin character he’s loosely based on (and related to) created by Maurice Leblanc. We discuss the elements within the film and what feels like Miyazaki touches, even at this early stage in his career. We compare the interesting world of manga and anime as compared to Disney films in particular. And we chat about the casts: the original Japanese, the 1992 English dub version and the 2000 dub. It’s a fun film, maybe not one of our favorites, but still something that’s got action, comedy and entertainment for the family. Check it out then tune in!

### “He wants you too, Malachai!" Stephen King may not like the film version of ’Children of the Corn,’ but considering it spawned 7 sequels and a remake, we’d like to think that he’s at least making a decent profit on his short story from 1977. This movie started careers for Linda Hamilton, Courtney Gains, John Franklin and Peter Horton and has created quite the cult following, no matter what King — or we — think of it. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we wrap up our Naughty Children series with this movie. We talk about why we don’t like it and really try to get to the bottom of what problems we feel the story has. We discuss the adaptation from King’s short story and how it changed, comparing the ’84 film with the ’09 Syfy Channel remake that was more faithful to the original King story. We chat about the effects and the overall look of the film, touching on how low budget production can lead to that (though doesn’t have to). And we have a first on the show — a Flickchart reranking! Check out the movie (or don’t) and tune in to the show. It’s arguably more enjoyable than the movie! ## Film Sundries - [Script Screenplay](http://www.horrorlair.com/movies/scripts/childrenofthecorn.pdf) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs6z1D4gVp4) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/1984/children_of_the_corn.html) - [Original Material](http://www.amazon.com/Night-Shift-Stephen-King-ebook/dp/B001BANK2S/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?qid=1446411354&sr=8-1&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&_encoding=UTF8) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/821319004F) - [Children of the Corn Movie](http://childrenofthecornmovie.com) - [_Who Can Kill a Child?_ — Full Feature (in Spanish)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y74mOFnSdQ) ## Trailers of the Week - Andy’s Trailer: [Don Verdean](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kf1WAcs6gs) — “Okay, I admit it, this doesn’t look like it’s going to be that good. But it’s the team behind Napoleon Dynamite so I’m just hoping that there’s something here. Fingers crossed." - Pete’s Trailer: [The Lady in the Van](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JAzCxeYZ90) — “I love Maggie Smith. She makes for the cutest crazy lady, and I get the feeling that this next film is going to give her a chance to shine courtesy of Nicholas Hytner and Alan Bennett."

### “Don’t be frightened. It was only the wind, my dear." Thus far, our series to celebrate Halloween — the Naughty Children series — hasn’t really been that scary. “The Bad Seed” is labeled a crime/drama/horror but comes across a bit more as a comedy now with the over-the-top performances. “Village of the Damned” is labeled a horror/mystery/sci-fi but doesn’t have much in the way of horror. This week’s film, Jack Clayton’s 1961 film “The Innocents,” really feels like the first in the series that’s got real scares in it, and scares that still hold up today. Martin Scorsese even put it on his list of 11 most scary films. And a lot of that is because of the atmosphere Clayton and his screenwriters (mostly Truman Capote) created with this adaptation of Henry James’ “The Turn of the Screw.” Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Naughty Children series with “The Innocents.” We talk about how much each like this film — Andy as the veteran of the film and Pete as the newbie — any why it works so well. We chat about Deborah Kerr in a role that exemplifies the ambiguity in the story and how it works so well in context of the decaying nature Capote riddled throughout the screenplay. We talk about Jim Clark’s editing and Freddie Francis’ cinematography, as well as Georges Auric’s score, noting how well they each work to add to the atmosphere in this film. And we marvel at Martin Stephens’ performance here, vastly different (and superior) to his performance in “Village of the Damned.” It’s a brilliant film that we’re thrilled to add to our list, so check it out and then tune in! ## Film Sundries - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOsF0S65RR0) - [Original Material](http://www.amazon.com/Turn-Screw-Henry-James-ebook/dp/B00GWLBFQ4/ref=sr_1_2_twi_kin_2?sr=8-2&ie=UTF8&keywords=turn%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bscrew&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1445572020) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/7A841613E1) ## Trailers of the Week - Andy’s Trailer: [He Never Died](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O589XTT1rQE) — “Damn. This looks wickedly funny. And violent. And fun. Henry Rollins as the Biblical Cain? Sure, give me some." - Pete’s Trailer: [The Boy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1U21VBSbSs) — “I’m not usually one for the horror, but this one cracks me up. Lauren Cohan is a treat to watch coming off of _Walking Dead_ and though I forgot to mention it on the show, Stacey Miner’s screenplay looks great coming off his Black List entry _Mixtape_, also announced for production, and a really interesting read."

### “Is there no limit to the power of these children?" John Wyndham’s 1957 novel “The Midwich Cuckoos” is the foundation for Wolf Rilla’s 1960 film “Village of the Damned.” It’s hard to say which title may actually be worse, but the story in both seems to work for most people. It’s a decent sci-fi story that, while dated, creates an interesting scenario with all the women in a village being impregnated at the same time by some alien force. Even with that interesting scenario, however, for every element that works in favor of the film, there seems to be another working against it. At least with today’s eyes. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Naughty Children series with Rilla’s 1960 film “Village of the Damned.” We talk about what works and what doesn’t, as well as why some of that matters more when it comes to actual enjoyment of the film (at least for Andy) and what they could have done to make it better. We chat about the performances, notably George Sanders, Barbara Shelley and Martin Stephens, and what they bring to the table. When it comes to Shelley, we also chat about the fact that her part is largely dismissed and why it bothers us so much. We discuss the look of the film with Rilla’s documentary approach as well as cinematographer Geoffrey Faithfull’s overall look, which worked nicely for us. And we look at MGM’s history with the film and touch on why they filmed it in England instead of Hollywood. It’s a fun film that, if you think too much about, you’ll find tons of problems; Pete sees the problems while Andy sees the fun. Check out the movie then tune in! ## Film Sundries - [Script Transcript](http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=village-of-the-damned) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AUBlW5EWnI) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/1960/village_of_the_damned.html) - [_The Midwich Cuckoos_ by John Wyndham](http://www.amazon.com/Midwich-Cuckoos-RosettaBooks-into-Film-ebook/dp/B003XREM3S/ref=sr_1_2?sr=8-2&ie=UTF8&keywords=the%2Bmidwich%2Bcuckoos&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1444964798) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/D01D2BD76E) ## Trailers of the Week - Andy's Trailer: [Pride and Prejudice and Zombies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAChymiQC-o) — “I’m not really sure about this whole mashup thing — it’s fun and all for a short period of time. I’m still not sure how well it could actually work for an entire feature film. That being said, I do love ‘Pride & Prejudice.’ And I do love zombies… " - Pete's Trailer: [Hail, Caesar!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMqeoW3XRa0) — “The Coens are back with a blow-out cast musical that celebrates …ummm… movie musicals! ScarJo and ChaTa and JoBro? Yeah, this is my kind of movie. Of course, I liked Hudsucker."

### “I thought I seen some mean little gals in my time, but you’re the meanest." It’s October, which means it’s time for some scares! This year, we’re celebrating with those lovable little children who just are downright bad. Our first film of the series gives us a young girl who turns out to be a malicious killer, but only because it’s her way to get the things that she wants. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we kick off our Naughty Children series with Mervyn LeRoy’s 1956 classic “The Bad Seed.” We talk about why this film works for us in all of its campy, over-the-top theatrical glory and how those elements may actually help make it more enjoyable today. We chat about the performances, notably Patty McCormack, Nancy Kelly, Henry Jones, Eileen Heckart and Evelyn Varden, and how well they worked for us, particularly Kelly and McCormack as mother and her murderous offspring. We discuss the Hays Code and how it influenced the filmmakers to change the ending, even if the ending ends up being almost more censorable. We touch on the script and the amount of subtext in the characters’ dialogue, particularly the women who were always trying to live up to the 50s housewife standards. And we hit on the cinematography and music, noting how well the music works but how standard the cinematography feels. It’s a fun film that may not be the top of our lists but is a very easy watch. Check it out then tune in! ## Film Sundries - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NWGyG4W5DI) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/1956/bad_seed.html) - [_The Bad Seed_ by William March](http://www.amazon.com/Seed-March-William-Reissue-Paperback/dp/B00BR5MVWW/ref=sr_1_3?sr=8-3&ie=UTF8&keywords=the%2Bbad%2Bseed%2Bbook&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1444526153) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/59BCF082B5) ## Trailers of the Week - Andy’s Trailer: [Bone Tomahawk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td1bVDeUCLk) — “I love westerns. I love horrors. A blend of the two? With Kurt Russell and his great big bushy beard? Yes, please!" - Pete’s Trailer: [Experimenter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQr28-UuQYs) — “I love that Stanley Milgram is getting film treatment, and Peter Sarsgaard seems to be just the guy to do it. So, I’m going to binge Ghostbusters, then watch this to get the full Milgram Experience."

### “So… I blew myself up.” The film board gathers! This month on the show, we’re dropping everything and working together to bring our man Mark Watney home from Mars in Ridley Scott’s latest, “The Martian.” This film, based on Andy Weir’s meticulously crafted book, is a celebration of ingenuity and scientific achievement — a sentiment in short supply across our media landscape — it’s a triumph that a film about smart people is blowing the doors off the box office in itself, whether you fall in love with the film or not. And some of us didn’t. Join Andy Nelson, Steve Sarmento, Tom Metz, Justin Jaeger, and Pete Wright as we pull apart Drew Goddard’s screenplay, sometimes-questionable wire work, stunning Martian visuals, Matt Damon’s exceptional performance and so much more this week on The Next Reel’s Film Board! ## Film Sundries - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej3ioOneTy8) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/2015/martian_ver6.html) - [Original Material](http://www.amazon.com/Martian-Novel-Andy-Weir-ebook/dp/B00EMXBDMA/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=the%2Bmartian%2Bkindle&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1443984434) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/9DEFCEA4BA) - [_The Martian_ author Andy Weir on The Talking Room with Adam Savage](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SemyzKgaUU) * * * Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! - [The Next Reel on iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-reel/id478159328?mt=2) - [The Next Reel on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheNextReel) - [The Next Reel on Twitter](http://twitter.com/thenextreel) - [The Next Reel on Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/thenextreel) - [The Next Reel on Letterboxd](http://letterboxd.com/thenextreel/) - [Guess the Movie with The Next Reel on Instagram](http://instagram.com/thenextreel) - [Check out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/thenextreel) And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: - [Follow Andy Nelson on Twitter](http://twitter.com/sodacreekfilm) - [Follow Pete Wright on Twitter](http://twitter.com/petewright) - [Follow Steve Sarmento on Twitter](https://twitter.com/mr_steve23) - [Check out Tom Metz on IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1224453/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) - [Justin "JJ" Jaeger](http://thenextreel.com/justin-jaeger/) - [Chadd Stoops](http://thenextreel.com/chadd-stoops) - [Follow Steven Smart on Letterboxd](http://letterboxd.com/steamrobot/)

### “Know your place. Keep your place. Be a shoe." Bong Joon-ho’s “Snowpiercer” made waves upon its US release because its distributor decided to give it a limited theatrical release the same day they released it digitally. It was a risky move — theatre owners rely on the window between theatrical release and subsequent releases to remain around six months roughly so as to ensure they get as much money out of the screenings as they can. By shutting this window, “Snowpiercer” could have left theatre owners in the cold and been deemed not worth watching because of the “straight to video” tarnish. But it found an audience in both formats and became a surprise hit. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish our Bong Joon-ho series with his 2013 film “Snowpiercer.” We talk about how the film is a pretty straightforward allegory in a sci-fi post-apocalytic world that audience members need to buy into if the film is going to work, and what happens if people don’t buy into that concept. We chat about the performances, notably Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton, and how well everyone works in the film. We discuss the cinematography, costume design, production design and score and ruminate on how much they all bring to the table. And we touch on the original French source material for this film which, unfortunately, neither of us have read. It’s a wonderful science fiction film that works well for us — even though we know it can be divisive. Check out the movie then tune in! ## Film Sundries - [Snowpiercer — “The Abridged Script”](http://www.the-editing-room.com/snowpiercer.html) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX5PwfEMBM0) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/2013/snowpiercer.html) - [Snowpiercer Vol. 1 — Graphic Novel (English)](http://www.amazon.com/Snowpiercer-Vol-Escape-Jacques-Lob/dp/1782761330/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&ie=UTF8&keywords=Le%2BTransperceneige&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1443753198) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/AEDFF0CF44) ## Trailers of the Week - Andy’s Trailer: [Hitchcock/Truffaut](https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=5&v=hgAvkXH4dmI) — “I love Hitchcock and Truffaut. I love the book. I love the people interviewed here. This sounds like an amazing look behind the curtain with lots of great nuggets of film knowledge. One for every film buff." - Pete’s Trailer: [Partisan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sutAdO2fNBI) — “Vincent Cassel is one of my favorite faces, and he brings it in this mentor/mentee commune thriller in which the apprentice, so to speak, becomes the master. Remind me not to take my son to this movie."

### “You’re not even worth the dirt on my son’s toenail." Bong Joon-ho’s follow-up feature to his massive success “The Host” was about a murder and the person trying to figure out what happened. To some people, it sounded awfully like his second film “Memories of Murder” and they were afraid he was returning to the safety of familiar territory. But 2009’s “Mother” ended up being a very different film and one which is hard to forget. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Bong Joon-ho series with “Mother.” We talk about how much we like this film and why it works so well while also being a bit bonkers. We chat about the actors, notably Kim Hye-ja and Won Bin as the titular mother and her son, reveling in the powerful, honest and surprising performances they both give. We discuss the story and really try to analyze the way Bong plays with the layers of truths and what our take is on what actually happened in the story. And we chat about the cinematography by Hong Kyung-pyo, the production design by Ryu Song-hie and the music by Lee Byung-woo, all great technicians delivering solid work to this great film. It’s a wonderfully directed film that shows the hands of a filmmaker who knows his craft and we have a great time talking about it. Check it out then tune in! ## Film Sundries - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky9U53ADS2Y) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/2010/mother.html) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/6459229DF3) ## Trailers of the Week - Andy’s Trailer: [Ashby](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNlMsJWb1KM) — “I love Mickey Rourke’s career comeback over the last few years and I want to see him succeed. Plus, I would have loved to have him as an ex-CIA assassin give me advice back when I was in high school." - Pete’s Trailer: [Truth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqOz8-Sto1g) — “You know that thing you say with friends, that ‘if they ever make a movie of my life, I want Robert Redford to play me…’ that thing. I wonder if Dan Rather ever said that?"

### “Sit down man, acclimatize.” The film board gathers! This month the gang of thugs has come together to answer the age-old question that has transfixed adventurers time immemorial: why do we see Everest? Because it’s there. It’s an IMAX 3D exclusive this week which might make you think it’s something of a … you know… spectacle. We’re going to tell you all about that, and we’re going to say some really good things about the cast, some moderate things about the director and writers, and some downright lousy things about the film’s title card. So LOOK OUT! If you can’t tell from our tone here, Balthasar Kormákur’s latest film has failed to wrap us around it’s little finger, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some interesting vectors for approach (see what I did there? Mountain Climbing Language!). So join Andy Nelson, Steve Sarmento, Justin Jaeger and Pete Wright for the trip of a lifetime, and you won’t even have to pay 65 grand to take it! ## Film Sundries - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOHS-mxn0RQ) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/2015/everest_ver4.html) - [Original Material](http://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Jon-Krakauer-ebook/dp/B000FC1ITK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?qid=1442713240&sr=8-2&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&_encoding=UTF8) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/2424078D73) * * * Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! - [The Next Reel on iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-reel/id478159328?mt=2) - [The Next Reel on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheNextReel) - [The Next Reel on Twitter](http://twitter.com/thenextreel) - [The Next Reel on Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/thenextreel) - [The Next Reel on Letterboxd](http://letterboxd.com/thenextreel/) - [Guess the Movie with The Next Reel on Instagram](http://instagram.com/thenextreel) - [Check out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/thenextreel) And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: - [Follow Andy Nelson on Twitter](http://twitter.com/sodacreekfilm) - [Follow Pete Wright on Twitter](http://twitter.com/petewright) - [Follow Steve Sarmento on Twitter](https://twitter.com/mr_steve23) - [Check out Tom Metz on IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1224453/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) - [Justin "JJ" Jaeger](http://thenextreel.com/justin-jaeger/) - [Chadd Stoops](http://thenextreel.com/chadd-stoops) - [Follow Steven Smart on Letterboxd](http://letterboxd.com/steamrobot/)

### “Is all of your family so dumb all the time?" Bong Joon-ho’s third film, “The Host," ended up becoming the highest grossing South Korean film of all time straight out of the gate with it playing on a record number of screens in its home country — it made the South Korean record books with its box office performance during its opening weekend alone. Quentin Tarantino loves it. Harry Knowles loves it. But how do we feel about it? Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we start our Bong Joon-ho series with 2006’s “The Host.” We talk about how we feel about the movie — Andy doesn’t like it very much despite seeing the qualities that make it stand out for people whereas Pete finds it a fun watch and enjoys said qualities. We chat about the actors, notably Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il and Bae Doo-na, touching on how well they work for us as members of this dysfunctional family of idiots. We talk about the monster and debate what works for us and what doesn’t. We discuss the Americans in the film as well as the English sequences, contemplating how well they work (if at all) in context with what Bong is trying to say. We cover the various messages Bong is hitting on with this film as well as touch on the various subplots that arise and how well they work. And we touch on the music and cinematography, noting what works and what doesn’t. It’s an interesting monster movie that certainly seems to have found its fans, even if Andy isn’t one of them. Check out the movie then tune in! ## Film Sundries - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCsBMwK40hw) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/2007/host_ver2.html) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/4C124B16A2) ## Trailers of the Week - Andy’s Trailer: [Demolition](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTJ1qS7KOm4) — “I loved ‘Wild’ and ‘Dallas Buyers Club.’ Jake Gyllenhaal is on a genius streak right now. The story is right up my alley. Everything is lining up for me as far as being in tune with this film. Can’t wait!" - Pete’s Trailer: [The Jungle Book](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcgJRQWxKnw) — “So, I learned that this is a movie of terrifying photo-realistic jungle animals fighting over a young boy. And singing. So there’s that." * * * Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! - [The Next Reel on iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-reel/id478159328?mt=2) - [The Next Reel on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheNextReel) - [The Next Reel on Twitter](http://twitter.com/thenextreel) - [The Next Reel on Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/thenextreel) - [The Next Reel on Letterboxd](http://letterboxd.com/thenextreel/) - [Guess the Movie with The Next Reel on Instagram](http://instagram.com/thenextreel) - [Check out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/thenextreel) And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: - [Follow Andy Nelson on Twitter](http://twitter.com/sodacreekfilm) - [Follow Pete Wright on Twitter](http://twitter.com/petewright) - [Follow Steve Sarmento on Twitter](https://twitter.com/mr_steve23) - [Check out Tom Metz on IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1224453/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) - [Justin "JJ" Jaeger](http://thenextreel.com/justin-jaeger/) - [Chadd Stoops](http://thenextreel.com/chadd-stoops) - [Follow Steven Smart on Letterboxd](http://letterboxd.com/steamrobot/)

### “The truth does not make it easier to understand, you know." When a choice is referred to as a “Sophie’s Choice” most people understand that the choice must be an impossibly difficult one between two unbearable options. But if it wasn’t for Meryl Streep’s performance in the 1982 film directed by Alan J. Pakula (and to a lesser extent William Styron’s novel upon which it was based), that phrase wouldn’t resonate the way it does. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we conclude our Meryl Streep series with the film for which she received her fourth Oscar nomination and first win as Best Actress, “Sophie’s Choice.” We talk about Meryl, our undying admiration for her and what she brings to the screen; plus we chat about her two primary costars — Kevin Kline and Peter MacNichol — and what they bring to the table. We discuss our problems with the film which seem to stem from the adaptation and the focus on Stingo as the main character of the film. We chat about Nestor Almendros and his cinematography work, comparing his naturalistic approach with other films he’s done and how it works here. We touch on the haunting and arresting score by Marvin Hamlisch. And we discuss the horrors of the concentration camps, noting several fascinating scenes that work well to portray the dichotomy between the world of the Jewish prisoners and that of the Nazi guards. It’s a decent film buoyed by two knock-it-out-of-the-park performances that ultimately break your heat, and as hard as it is to watch, it’s great to discuss. So watch the film (but be prepared with tissues) then tune in! ## Film Sundries - [Script Transcript](http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/s/sophies-choice-script-transcript-streep.html) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STPJVf6wqCk) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/1982/sophies_choice.html) - [Original Material](http://www.amazon.com/Sophies-Choice-Open-William-Styron-ebook/dp/B003JBFCEQ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?qid=1441926103&sr=8-2&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&_encoding=UTF8) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/337C356A42) ## Trailers of the Week - Andy’s Trailer: [Krampus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6cVyoMH4QE) — “I love ‘Trick ’r Treat’ and can’t wait to see what Michael Dougherty brings to the table with this Christmas horror movie. And clearly Krampus is in the zeitgeist these days as there are a lot of Krampus projects floating around." - Pete’s Trailer: [Room](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_Ci-pAL4eE) — “A well-produced trailer of a potentially creepy boy-meets-world kidnap-escape thriller. Cute kid. Maybe Krampus’ll show up and really drive this one home.” * * * Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! - [The Next Reel on iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-reel/id478159328?mt=2) - [The Next Reel on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheNextReel) - [The Next Reel on Twitter](http://twitter.com/thenextreel) - [The Next Reel on Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/thenextreel) - [The Next Reel on Letterboxd](http://letterboxd.com/thenextreel/) - [Guess the Movie with The Next Reel on Instagram](http://instagram.com/thenextreel) - [Check out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/thenextreel) And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: - [Follow Andy Nelson on Twitter](http://twitter.com/sodacreekfilm) - [Follow Pete Wright on Twitter](http://twitter.com/petewright) - [Follow Steve Sarmento on Twitter](https://twitter.com/mr_steve23) - [Check out Tom Metz on IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1224453/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) - [Justin "JJ" Jaeger](http://thenextreel.com/justin-jaeger/) - [Chadd Stoops](http://thenextreel.com/chadd-stoops) - [Follow Steven Smart on Letterboxd](http://letterboxd.com/steamrobot/)

### “You have planted a dagger in me, and your damned freedom gives you license to twist it in my heart!" Meryl Streep received her first nomination for Best Actress in a film that one would think had been lost in time if not for the recent Criterion Collection release — Karel Reisz’s 1981 film “The French Lieutenant’s Woman.” She lost to Katherine Hepburn in “On Golden Pond,” which makes sense, but Streep’s performance is still a fascinating one. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Meryl Streep series with Reisz’s film. We talk about how the film worked for us — Pete found it painfully boring and Andy, while appreciating it, ultimately didn’t really connect with it. We discuss the intricacies of the script and how Harold Pinter adapted the ‘unfilmmable’ novel by John Fowles upon which it was based, enjoying the design of the screenplay structure quite a bit. We chat about the strengths in what is going on in the two parallel stories and what keeps us from completely connecting with it. We talk about the actors — notably Streep and Jeremy Irons — and what they bring to the table in these two roles. And we deliberate on the proper way to pronounce ‘lieutenant.’ It’s an interesting film that ultimately didn’t click with either of us, even if we could appreciate some of the work in it. And it brings our total number of films discussed on the regular show to 200! So check out the movie then tune in — we have a great chat about it! ## Film Sundries - [Script Transcript](http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/f/french-lieutenants-woman-script-transcript.html) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq_Pmrwq6Ik) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/1981/french_lieutenants_woman.html) - [Original Material](http://www.amazon.com/French-Lieutenants-Woman-John-Fowles/dp/0316291161/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&sr=1-1&s=books&keywords=the%2Bfrench%2Blieutenant%2527s%2Bwoman&tag=rashpixel_mwl-20&qid=1441481766) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/C4899F473E) ## Trailers of the Week - Andy’s Trailer: [Uncle John](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9h7y-kPGs0) — “The trailer is haunting and creepy, and John Ashton seems to come out of left field to play the titular character. I have a hard time figuring out what this is about, but the trailer makes me want to see it. Now THAT’S what a good trailer should do." - Pete’s Trailer: [The Lobster](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpt0tn1-54k) — “I love the cultural reflection here, that if you don’t find traditional love, you’re turned into an animal and sent into the woods. Perhaps the metaphor is too on the nose, but the mood and experience of this trailer bring me a big smile." * * * Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! - [The Next Reel on iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-reel/id478159328?mt=2) - [The Next Reel on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheNextReel) - [The Next Reel on Twitter](http://twitter.com/thenextreel) - [The Next Reel on Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/thenextreel) - [The Next Reel on Letterboxd](http://letterboxd.com/thenextreel/) - [Guess the Movie with The Next Reel on Instagram](http://instagram.com/thenextreel) - [Check out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/thenextreel) And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: - [Follow Andy Nelson on Twitter](http://twitter.com/sodacreekfilm) - [Follow Pete Wright on Twitter](http://twitter.com/petewright) - [Follow Steve Sarmento on Twitter](https://twitter.com/mr_steve23) - [Check out Tom Metz on IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1224453/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) - [Justin "JJ" Jaeger](http://thenextreel.com/justin-jaeger/) - [Chadd Stoops](http://thenextreel.com/chadd-stoops) - [Follow Steven Smart on Letterboxd](http://letterboxd.com/steamrobot/)

### “I didn’t know it’d happen to me." Meryl Streep won the first of her three Oscars for her supporting role in Robert Benton’s 1979 film “Kramer vs. Kramer.” Of course, as of this episode, it’s the second nomination for her out of nineteen nominations — more nominations than any other actor. And when you watch “Kramer vs. Kramer,” it’s hard not to wonder why she won for supporting actress rather than actress. Sure, her screen time is much less than Dustin Hoffman, her co-star, but her role has an equal importance in the film (and if we’re using the Hannibal Lecter argument, she clearly should have been nominated for Best Actress). Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Meryl Streep series, looking at some early films for which she received Oscar nominations, and this week talking about Benton’s film. We chat about how this film hit us when we last saw it in college compared to how it hit us this go-around. Hint: much stronger now. We talk about the brilliant and honest performance from all of the actors, notably Streep, Hoffman, Justin Henry, Jane Alexander, Howard Duff and just a hint of JoBeth Williams. We discuss why this story works so well and what interesting topics it hits on. We chat about Benton and his career, and we touch on Néstor Almendros’ beautiful cinematography. And we talk about how the film did at a time when big blockbuster films were all the rage. It’s a film we love that also broke both of us. Watch it — everyone should see it — then tune in to this week’s show. ## Film Sundries - [Script Transcript](http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Kramer-vs-Kramer.html) - [Original theatrical trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SP9n13ux1I) - [Original poster artwork](http://www.impawards.com/1979/kramer_vs_kramer.html) - [Original Material](http://www.amazon.com/Kramer-vs-Novel-Avery-Corman-ebook/dp/B00B1MSHLU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1440730985&sr=1-1&keywords=kramer+vs.+kramer) - [Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/movie/A944FC9E39) ## Trailers of the Week - Andy’s Trailer: [The Witch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQXmlf3Sefg) — “I love the period. I love the look. I love the concept. And damn if this doesn’t look super creepy!" - Pete’s Trailer: [Burnt](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiGJlUVQDGk) — “Bradley Cooper wants to run the best restaurant in the world. He wants people in his restaurant to be sick. With longing. I love cooking movies. I loved Chef. I just got my first ceramic knife and I feel like I was reborn. I will see this movie." * * * Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! - [The Next Reel on iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-reel/id478159328?mt=2) - [The Next Reel on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheNextReel) - [The Next Reel on Twitter](http://twitter.com/thenextreel) - [The Next Reel on Flickchart](http://www.flickchart.com/thenextreel) - [The Next Reel on Letterboxd](http://letterboxd.com/thenextreel/) - [Guess the Movie with The Next Reel on Instagram](http://instagram.com/thenextreel) - [Check out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/thenextreel) And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: - [Follow Andy Nelson on Twitter](http://twitter.com/sodacreekfilm) - [Follow Pete Wright on Twitter](http://twitter.com/petewright) - [Follow Steve Sarmento on Twitter](https://twitter.com/mr_steve23) - [Check out Tom Metz on IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1224453/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) - [Justin "JJ" Jaeger](http://thenextreel.com/justin-jaeger/) - [Chadd Stoops](http://thenextreel.com/chadd-stoops) - [Follow Steven Smart on Letterboxd](http://letterboxd.com/steamrobot/)