Reel Film Chronicles – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Listen, over here at the Reel Film Chronicles, we adore a good super hero movie. We're instinctively drawn to them - every theatrical release, each direct to streaming movie - but we're getting a bit worn out. Superhero fatigue, Disney+ MCU series, etc. We've got a lot to say about the industry, what's grinding our gears, but also what we really enjoy. With a focus on the newest Captain America movie, we find light within the dark, and I say this simply because I really haven't seen any positive discussions about the movie. Well, in this podcast episode we nearly get there.

Regardless, this was a fun one to do, and we hope you forgive us for the long hiatus. I promise we have more episodes in progress and a loose plan to record some more soon. Thanks for listening and supporting us!

Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

Directed by: Julius Onah

Starring: Anthony Mackie - Harrison Ford - Danny Ramirez - Shira Haas - Tim Blake Nelson

Genres: science fiction - action - thriller

Runtime: 119 minutes

Our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Reel Film Chronicles⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Letterboxd Profiles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Nathan⁠⁠⁠⁠

Nathan's Site: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Feed the Voices⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠ ⁠⁠| ⁠⁠⁠⁠IMDb⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 93

Captain America: Brave New World

Because we exist now in a purgatory between reality and unreality and all original thought has been expunged, filtered out through a cosmic sieve that we can neither perceive nor define, we are now subject to a neverending cavalcade of remakes, reboots, reminaginings, and sequels. Gladiator II is not just a legacy sequel to an Oscar-winning film that has become revered among fans and critics alike; it is yet another herald of the New Age, in which our collective consciousness is only capable of telling stories that have already been told and consuming those same stories again, and again, and again in an endless cycle until the heat death of this universe and our reabsorption into the next link in the Great Chain of Being. Fortunately for us, some of those stories are told by Ridley Scott and are still spectacles worthy of the big screen. Gladiator II is a direct sequel to Gladiator, catching us up on the state of the Roman Empire since the heroic General Maximus gave his life to bring down a corrupt leader and provide a glimmer of hope for the oppressed and the outcast. As always, Ridley Scott has his finger on the pulse, and shows that Maximus' sacrifice led to... the rise of not one but two insane Emperors drunk on their own power and slowly destroying their own empire. But a new her will arise in Hanno, a warrior who is enslaved and forced to fight as a gladiator but who secretly holds the power to overthrow the empire... Listen, if you've seen the first one you know the drill, but you also know the old saying; if it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you have the constitution, then journey with The Reel Film Chronicles into this fantasy world that vaguely resembles ancient Rome to see if the second time really is the charm and whether Gladiator II answers the age-old question that echoes in eternity: Are you not entertained?

GLADIATOR II (2024)

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Starring: Paul Mescal - Denzel Washington - Pedro Pascal - Connie Nielsen

Genres: drama - action - adventure

Runtime: 148 minutes

Our Website: ⁠⁠⁠Reel Film Chronicles⁠⁠⁠

Our Letterboxd Profiles: ⁠⁠⁠Brian⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Nathan⁠⁠⁠

Nathan's Site: ⁠⁠⁠Feed the Voices⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠ ⁠| ⁠⁠⁠IMDb⁠⁠⁠

Episode 92

Gladiator 2

Possibly the first western film we've covered on the podcast, and who better than to guide us into the genre than Kevin Costner, with his latest ambitious multi-part movie project? We give a quick rundown of Costner's acting and directorial efforts, and our experiences with the western genre before we kick our spurs and discuss the movie at length - which is mostly what we enjoyed about the film.

* Spoiler warning given during the episode, but we don't hold back during our conversation here. *

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024)

directed by: Kevin Costner

starring: Kevin Costner - Sienna Miller - Sam Worthington - Jena Malone - Owen Crow Shoe

genres: western

runtime: 181 minutes Website: Reel Film Chronicles

Movie Links: Letterboxd - IMDb - TMDB

From Guy Ritchie, the master of ungentlemanly filmmaking, comes The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, a heartwarming tale about a band of friends bound together through an unshakeable bond: a shared compulsion to kill Nazis. Based loosely (just ever so loosely) on a "true" story (we cannot stress just how loosely this movie was based on actual events), the movie follows Superman, Jack Reacher, and friends as they set out to cripple Nazi U-boat operations in the north Atlantic to give England the breathing room it needs to fight back against Hitler's advancing cronies the best way one can: by organizing a heist. Just a great, big, old Nazi-killing heist. As with any great heist, nothing goes to plan, until it does, then it doesn't, but then it does, and a lot of Nazis die in the end, which if we're being honest, is probably the best way for any heist to end. So join us as we travel back in time to World War II (not literally, of course - that's impossible as far as you know) to explore Guy Ritchie's latest movie The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare to see if this is a return to form and the trusted Ritchie formula for on-screen hijinks. And if not, just through sheer law of averages, one of the fifteen movies he's releasing this year is bound to be to your liking.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

directed by: Guy Ritchie

starring: Henry Cavill - Eiza González - Alan Ritchson - Henry Golding

genres: action - war - drama

runtime: 120 minutes

Operation Postmaster (Wikipedia)

Website: Reel Film Chronicles

Movie Links: Letterboxd - IMDb - TMDB

Do you have what it takes to make it epic? Well, we certainly try, at least! We sing the praises of this latest instalment in George Miller's Mad Max Saga by delving into everything that we enjoyed about this bombastic and layered action film. From the acting, the special effects, the creative names, the incredible soundtrack, the story, characters and more, we also take time to appreciate how it fits perfectly in with it's sequel film Fury Road (which came out nine (!!) years ago. By the finish, we gave our ratings for this film, but also each Mad Max entry.

This episode is not to be missed!

* Spoilers for all Mad Max movies, including Furiosa, are contained within. *

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

directed by: George Miller

starring: Anya Taylor-Joy - Chris Hemsworth - Tom Burke - Alyla Browne - Lachy Hulme

genres: action - adventure - science-fiction

runtime: 149min reelfilmchronicles.com

Letterboxd | IMDb

We delve into this Amazon produced remake of a fan favorite: ROAD HOUSE. We offer our take on this movie without the nostalgia glasses that many may have, as Brian missed the original film entirely, and Nathan watched it just before jumping into this new iteration.

We start the episode giving a rundown of director Doug Liman's filmography, then jump into the film (with spoilers for both this one and the original throughout). We'll explore the characters, the acting, the action and visual effects, all set against the backdrop of what could effectively be a "direct to video" film starring one of our generation's greatest actors.

Road House (2024)

directed by: Doug Liman

starring: Jake Gyllenhaal - Daniela Melchior - Billy Magnussen - Jessica Williams

genres: thriller - action

runtime: 121 minutes

Reel Film Chronicles

Letterboxd - IMDb

Caught in the shadow of a cinematic legacy or stepping into the light on her own terms? Caitlin Cronenberg's HUMANE marks her entrance into the feature film arena, and we're here to dissect just how the threads of family renown and nepotism weave through her narrative tapestry.

The heart of our episode beats strong with a foray into the film, a story that boldly navigates the murky junction of family ties, environmental disaster, governmental tendrils, and moral ambiguity. Emily Hampshire's stirring portrayal anchors the tale, with Canadian stars like Jay Baruchel and Enrico Colantoni adding layers to this complex narrative. Whether you're a first-time viewer or a critique-hardened cinephile, the film's emotional and thematic depth is sure to strike a chord, and we're here to analyze every note.

As the credits roll on our cinematic discussion, we engage in the "ultimate" ratings guessing game, which you can play along with while listening. The conversation unfolds into a broader meditation on the personal journey of evaluating art, and the Cronenberg name becomes a lens through which we ponder the unpredictable alchemy of filmmaking success. Join us for a vibrant exploration of film, family, and the enduring question of what it means to make a mark in the shadow of giants.

HUMANE (2024)

directed by: Caitlin Cronenberg

starring: Jay Baruchel - Emily Hampshire - Sebastian Chacon - Alanna Bale

genres: science fiction - horror - thriller

runtime: 93 min www.reelfilmchronicles.com

Letterboxd | IMDb

This podcast is a tomb. In the Year of our Lord 1997, a movie was unleashed on an unsuspecting population. A movie so vile, so terrifying, so violent, so gruesome that it borrowed its way into our collective conscience, wrapping its tendrils around our cerebral cortex, refusing to let us forget her. That movie was Event Horizon. A sci-fi-horror staple for those in the know, it became a beloved cult classic, even (or maybe especially) among those of us who were traumatized at a young age by the grisly imagery and claustrophobic atmosphere. Event Horizon wound up being one of those lighting-in-a-bottle (or hellfire-in-a-spaceship) situations, with a unique concept executed to perfection with an all-star cast led by Laurence Fishburne and Sam Neill on a spaceship set that looked like the design had been pulled from the deranged minds of Clive Barker's Cenobites. Violent murders, slow descents into madness, and a spaceship that may or may not have travelled to the literal incarnation of Hell are all hallmarks of one of the most idiosyncratic and memorable entries into both the sci-fi and horror movie pantheons. The choice laid before you now is this; listen to this episode of The Real Film Chronicles and delve into the twisted world of Event Horizon or save yourself... from Hell!

Event Horizon (1997)

| directed by: Paul W. S. Anderson

| starring: Laurence Fishburne - Sam Neill - Kathleen Quinlan - Joely Richardson

| science fiction - mystery - horror

| 95 min Reel Film Chronicles

Letterboxd

We're happy to be diving deep into Dune Part Two, the eagerly anticipated sequel with a feature-length discussion on everything we loved about the movie. We also talk about differences with the book (but we don't go deep there, and try to avoid book spoilers).

Dune: Part Two (2024)

| directed by: Denis Villeneuve

| starring: Timothée Chalamet - Zendaya - Rebecca Ferguson - Javier Bardem - Josh Brolin - Austin Butler

| adventure - science fiction

| 167 min https://reelfilmchronicles.com

Letterboxd

SHED THE LIES

Join your intrepid hosts as we delve into this 2023 Netflix crime thriller - a surprisingly good (well, it surprised us at least) film that offers more than any description or trailer could provide. We're fans of all the actors here, and we fanboy over Benicio del Toro and his burning performance here, and talk about how the film world needs more Alicia Silverstone.

REPTILE (2023)

| directed by: Grant Singer

| starring: Benicio del Toro - Justin Timberlake - Alicia Silverstone - Michael Pitt

| crime

| 136min https://reelfilmchronicles.com

https://boxd.it/wKjc

* Rated explicit/mature for language and subject matter.