Reel Film Chronicles – Page 6 – Reel Film Chronicles

The Matrix Resurrections

Everything that has a beginning has an end. Unless, of course, you work in Hollywood. The Matrix is the latest in a long line of franchises that has been resurrected, this time with the aptly named The Matrix Resurrections, the fourth outing into an environmentally devastated world where machines have come to dominate society, and people are kept placated and docile in a virtual universe enabled by a global, interconnected network. So, basically, our current world, except with slightly more cave orgies. So take your red pill, grab your sunglasses, strap on your finest leather outfit, and join us as we show you exactly how deep the rabbit hole goes. In this episode, we examine whether The Matrix Resurrections is a worthy successor to the boundary-pushing original trilogy, or just another system of control to distract audiences from the mundane reality of their day-to-day lives. 2021 | directed by Lana Wachowski starring Keanu Reeves | Carrie-Anne Moss | Yahya Abdul-Mateen II | Jessica Henwick | Jonathan Groff action / sci-fi / adventure | 148 min — CHAPTERS — 00:00 –…

The Last Duel

2021 | directed by Ridley Scottstarring Jodie Comer | Matt Damon | Adam Driver | Harriet Walter | Ben Affleckdrama / action / history | 153 min In this week’s exciting episode, Brian and Nathan discuss The Last Duel, the latest film from Ridley Scott. An historical epic about the events leading up to the last legally sanctioned duel in France, the movie wrestles with some very timely subject matter, including the very human cost of sexual assault and structural mysogyny. Join our intrepid duo as they take a deep dive into The Last Duel, exploring the unique narrative structure, powerful themes, and singular vision of one of the best movies that 2021 had to offer despite being largely ignored during its initial theatrical release. This episode also explores the celebrated filmography of Ridley Scott and where The Last Duel falls in his pantheon, in the kind of thoughtful, nuanced way you’re come to expect from The Reel Film Chronicles. Anchor Apple Google Pocket Casts — CHAPTERS — 00:00 – Introduction01:13 – Ridley Scott Filmography24:47 – The Last Duel1:13:12 –…

Resident Evil

I was roughly fifteen years old when the first Resident Evil game appeared on the Playstation and feeding off the hype of a heavy diet of gaming magazines, I was quick to run out and rent the title to see what the fuss was all about. This wasn’t my introduction to survival horror – that had come in Alone in the Dark on the PC – but it was a giant leap forward and ultimately, not a game that I could really get into. I ignored the first three games but absolutely fell in love with the fourth title, which served as a retooling of the series with the advent of an entirely new gameplay structure and embracing more of the shooter aspect of survival horror. With that being said, I can’t pretend to know anything about the series, including any of the characters or the lore of the world that’s been built up for so long. I approach these films as a bit of an outsider, but my gamer roots and knowledge are not entirely forgotten. Resident Evil has seen live action…

Underworld

Join in on some good old fashioned vampire versus werewolves fun as Brian indulges in this 2000-era five part series known as UNDERWORLD. Starring (for the most part) Kate Beckinsale, as her vampire character falls in love with a vampire/werewolf hybrid in the midst of a millennia-long war between vampires and lycans, with both sides featuring their fair share of heroes and villains.

Dune

2021 | directed by Denis Villeneuvestarring Timothee Chalamet | Rebecca Ferguson | Oscar Isaac | Josh Brolin | Stellan Skarsgardaction / science-fiction | 155 min Strap on your stillsuits and grab a heaping helping of spice as you travel along with The Reel Film Chronicles to delve into the world of Dune. Based on Frank Herbert’s epic novel of the same name, Denis Villeneuve’s film adaptation is an ambitious interpretation of a story that has long been categorized as unfilmable (with the notable exception of David Lynch’s attempt with his own cinematic version back in 1984, which has since garnered a cult following). As recent converts to the Dune-iverse, Brian and Nathan bring to bear their own insightful insights to the denizens and political machinations of Arrakis. Such challenging source material requires the skill and patience rivalling the bene gesserit themselves. Tune in to find out whether 2021’s Dune exceeded even the most prescient of visions or whether it earned itself a place in the gullet of a sandworm. Anchor Apple Google Pocket Casts — CHAPTERS — No chapters, it’s…

Eternals

With a more casual approach, Brian and Nathan take on this sweeping entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 2021 | directed by Chloé Zhao starring Gemma Chan – Richard Madden – Angelina Jolie – Kumail Nanjiani a ction / science-fiction / superhero | 156 min — CHAPTERS — No chapters, just pure Eternals talk here! Anchor Apple Google Pocket Casts

Copshop

Our next episode to drop is your one stop shop for Copshop talk. Did it rock our blocks or turn out to be a flop? For fans of Joe Carnahan, this may have been the very plot that you’ve sought. The titular cop shop serves as the backdrop to the plot, a single spot fraught with danger, wherein our characters are locked, though everything is not exactly as you thought. Our main characters count down the clock in shock at the constant risk of getting shot or chopped, and loyalties are tested as stories are swapped and our heroes and villains try not to blow their tops as they learn who actually walks the walk and who merely talks the talk. So hop on board and eavesdrop as our hosts squawk and unravel the knot of whether to sing Copshop’s praises from the hilltops or block it from their memories faster than a photoshopped cyclops bar-hopping across the flat-top with an atomic lollipop. COPSHOP | 2021directed by Joe Carnahan starring Gerard Butler – Frank Grillo – Alexis Louder – Toby Huss action / crime…

The Night House

Be afraid. Be very afraid. Or not. We’re not here to tell you how to live your life. We are here, however, to tell you about the Night House, the latest movie from director David Bruckner. As Beth (Rebecca Hall) struggles to deal with the suicide of her husband, she unravels a sordid tale full of murder, unstoppable supernatural entities, and labyrinthine mirror houses in alternate dream dimensions. Or maybe the only thing that unravels is Beth’s sanity. Or maybe The Night House is really 2021’s sleeper hit romantic comedy. Or maybe it’s all a metaphor for the effect of the industrial revolution on the slow decline of proletariat ownership over the means of production. Join Brian and Nathan as they delve into the twisted world of The Nighthouse, and try to determine exactly how much stock you should be buying in adult diapers before you check out what is undoubtedly one of the most unique cinematic visions of 2021. THE NIGHT HOUSE | 2021 directed by David Bruckner starring Rebecca Hall – Sarah Goldberg – Vondie Curist-Hall – Evan Jonigkeit…

Malignant

The face of evil has a new… face. In this week’s exciting episode, Brian and Nathan delve into James Wan’s latest horror opus, Malignant. The movie is another entry in the genre from one of only two people in history to ever successfully oversee a cinematic universe, so, of course, expectations for Malignant were entirely realistic and reasonable. Part slasher, part body horror, part psychological thriller, Malignant festers in the mind long after the credits roll owing to an original idea and a unique voice. Does Malignant usher in a bloody new era of horror and franchising rights? Tune in to hear our dynamic duo discuss the merits of James Wan’s latest and greatest and weigh in on whether murder and horrific surgery is scarier than parking unnecessarily close to the edge of cliff. MALIGNANT | 2021 directed by James Wan starring Annabelle Wallis – Maddie Hasson – George Young – Michole Briana White mystery / thriller / horror 112 min

The Mummy

Join Brian and Nathan as they unearth this blast from the past, and attempt to unravel the secret to the movie’s ongoing success more than twenty years since its initial release. Whether you’re a long-time fan or discovering The Mummy for the first time, your intrepid hosts will make sure you don’t end up on the wrong side of the river.