Just when you thought it was safe to greenlight a sequel...

Nathan and Sam kick off The Search for More Money, a mini-retrospective devoted to those inevitable Hollywood follow-ups born after somebody at the studio looked at the box-office receipts and said, “Well...why don't we just do that again?”

First into the water: Jaws 2, the 1978 sequel tasked with following one of the greatest blockbusters ever made. And while the shark may have had fewer mechanical problems this time around, the production certainly didn't.

Sam dives deep into the film's famously rocky journey to the screen, including the firing of original director John D. Hancock, his abandoned darker vision of a financially devastated Amity Island, the arrival of Jeannot Szwarc to rescue an already-moving production, major rewrites, cast changes, filming split between Martha's Vineyard and Florida, and a very unhappy Roy Scheider, who apparently had about as much enthusiasm for returning to Amity as Chief Brody had for going back in the water.

And beneath all the criticism, there's a bigger question: what happens when a movie you loved as a kid doesn't quite survive the trip back through adult eyes? Nathan and Sam both have deep nostalgia for Jaws 2, but nostalgia can only keep you afloat for so long.

Before heading to Amity, Nathan shares his first-ever moviegoing experience overseas, visiting Cinema Trindade in Porto, Portugal for Karim Aïnouz's bizarre black comedy Rosebush Pruning. Sam checks in with the latest from Sam's Reel World Adventures, and a discussion of Spider-Man: Brand New Day sends Nathan spiraling into the modern parent's ultimate cinematic nightmare: how many Marvel movies do you have to show a child before they're legally allowed to understand Spider-Man?

03:25 – Nathan’s Portugal Theater Trip & Rosebush Pruning Review

11:32 – Sam’s Reel World Adventures Update - Sam's Youtube channel

14:17 – Nathan’s Spider-Man Dilemma

20:47 – Jaws 2: Movie Facts

36:27 – Jaws 2 Discussion

1:07:20 – Movie Clip Game

1:10:23 – Final Ratings & VAULT DECISION

1:17:39 – Recommendation Shelf

Be sure to watch both episodes of Sam's Reel World Adventures where he explores the filming locations of Jaws 2.

Find all our episodes here or on your preferred Podcast app:

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It's time for the grand finale of Duv-All In, our four-part celebration of the legendary Robert Duvall!

Nathan Suher, Sam Cole, and special guest Dave Merrill (filmmaker, entrepreneur, and Bluff City movie buff) dive into The Apostle (1997), the Academy Award-nominated drama that Robert Duvall didn't just star in... he wrote it, directed it, produced it, and practically brewed the coffee on set.

Is The Apostle Duvall's greatest performance? Why does this film still stand apart from almost every Hollywood movie about faith? Does its powerful story of redemption, guilt, and second chances earn a place in our Vault of Legends, or should it be left behind when the asteroid wipes out civilization?

Then things take a delightfully unhinged turn...

Nathan debuts Robert Duvall Sound Clip Jeopardy!, where Sam and Dave battle it out by identifying Robert Duvall movies using nothing but audio clips. Will they recognize Tender Mercies? The Great Santini? Network? Or will they accidentally buzz in with Days of Thunder when the answer was Deep Impact? (Anything is possible.)

Whether you're a lifelong Robert Duvall fan, a lover of classic cinema, or just looking for your next great movie recommendation, this episode closes out our Duv-All In retrospective with thoughtful conversation, questionable trivia skills, and plenty of laughs.

01:35 Meet our guest: Dave Merrill

07:05 Nathan's movie theater mishap (Disclosure Day)

13:20 The Apostle (1997) Trailer & Plot Synopsis

54:00 Final Ratings & Vault of Legends Verdict

01:08:00 Robert Duvall Sound Clip Jeopardy!

We return to our Robert Duvall retrospective with good friend and guest Mark Krawczyk of the Spoiler Room Podcast, as well as the Chief, Cook, and Bottle Washer at Special Mark Productions. Together we dive into Joel Schumacher’s 1993 thriller FALLING DOWN.

Stick around for our Recommendation Shelf segment centered around “People at Their Boiling Points,” and to cap off the show, we ask Mark to adjudicate two films that have been hanging in the balance to determine whether they will be SAVED or PURGED.

It’s a packed episode. So packed, in fact, that it makes L.A. freeway traffic look relaxing.

To find Mark Krawczyk, The Spoiler Room Podcast, his Youtube channel visit: https://www.specialmarkproductions.com/

Companies/movies/shows mentioned in this episode:

• Weston Media Podcast Network
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Warner
• Gilmore Girls
• Subway
• Polo Lounge
• Mark Productions
• Lemon Ace
• Orion Pictures
• RoboCop
• Colors
• Dying Young
• Flatliners
• A Time to Kill
• Muppets Take Manhattan
• Death Wish
• God Bless America
• Elden Ring
• Ocarina of Time

Find all our episodes here or on your preferred Podcast app:

https://backtotheframerate.com

Back to the Frame Rate is on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/backframerate/

Be sure to Follow us @backtotheframerate

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This week on Back to the Frame Rate, Nathan and Sam temporarily pause their Robert Duvall retrospective to blast off into one of the most divisive entries in the James Bond franchise: 1979’s Moonraker.

With Artemis missions, sci-fi spectacle, and Roger Moore swagger on the brain, the guys revisit the infamous Bond adventure that traded espionage for laser battles in outer space. Is Moonraker a glorious camp classic or the moment the franchise floated completely out of orbit?

57:00 – Final ratings and decision to Save or PURGE

1:02:15 – James Bond Top 5 Films with Nathan, Sam, and Eli (2023 Archival)

Find all our episodes here or on your preferred Podcast app:

https://backtotheframerate.com

Back to the Frame Rate is on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/backframerate/

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This week, we dive deep into the cinematic gem that is 'Tender Mercies', a film that snagged Robert Duvall an Academy Award for Best Actor back in '83. Joined by our awesome guest, actor Paul Kandarian, we showered this flick with the praise it deserves, discussing its subtle storytelling and rich character development. Duvall's portrayal of Mac Sledge is nothing short of masterful, bringing a raw, authentic energy to a character seeking redemption and a second chance. We dissected the film's themes of love, loss, and the beauty of second chances, all wrapped in a beautifully understated package that feels like a warm hug. So, grab your favorite snack, kick back, and join us as we celebrate this classic and explore what makes it one of Duvall's finest performances!

Find Paul Kandarian at https://www.paulkandarian.com/

Find all our episodes here or on your preferred Podcast app:

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Back to the Frame Rate is on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/backframerate/

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In this episode, we’re not just chatting about the film itself but also about its themes of control, rebellion, and the preservation of human stories in a world gone cold and clinical. Our hosts are tearing apart this George Lucas classic, reflecting on Robert Duvall’s performance and the film’s unique visual style, which some say is as sterile as the society it depicts.

Find all our episodes here or on your preferred Podcast app:

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Back to the Frame Rate is on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/backframerate/

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We presour top picks for 2025, showcasing the films that made us laugh, cry, and contemplate life as we face the end of days. We’ll chat about everything from popcorn flicks to thought-provoking dramas, and even throw in some honorable mentions for good measure. Think of it as our cinematic Last Supper—where we’re not just feasting on popcorn but also on the essence of storytelling itself. So, grab your favorite snack, kick back, and let’s dissect what made 2025 a year to remember in cinema!

Subscribe to Sam's newly rebranded Youtube Channel: Sam's Reel World Adventures

https://www.youtube.com/@samsreelworld1981

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We’re all about the cinematic journeys that keep the spirit of storytelling alive, even in the face of impending doom. Our main squeeze this week? How this installment feels like a continuation of "The Way of Water" rather than a new chapter in the Avatar saga. We’ll dig into the visuals, the characters, and whether this flick packs the punch we expect from a James Cameron joint. Plus, we can't help but share some light-hearted banter about our favorite (and not-so-favorite) moments, including a character that might just make you want to throw your popcorn at the screen. So grab your snacks and settle in—it's about to get interesting!

02:05 Diving into Avatar: Fire and Ash

04:22 Box Office Predictions and Franchise Future

09:40 Avatar: Fire and Ash - Initial Reactions

41:03 Final Thoughts and Ratings

45:26 Recommendation Shelf: Humans Are the Real Enemy

56:37 Show Wrap-Up and Future Plans

Find all our episodes here or on your preferred Podcast app:

https://backtotheframerate.com

Back to the Frame Rate is on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/backframerate/

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True Lies, directed by James Cameron, is the centerpiece of our second episode in the mini James Cameron retrospective. We dive deep into this wild 1994 action-comedy that takes the double life trope and cranks it up to eleven. Arnold Schwarzenegger shines as a secret agent whose domestic troubles become hilariously intertwined with his high-stakes espionage life. Spoiler alert: there are terrorists, a nuclear threat, and a whole lot of explosive action. We also get into our Recommendation Shelf segment, exploring films that feature characters living double lives, and then we crank up the fun with a bonkers game where we recast classic films with none other than the Governator himself. Buckle up, it’s gonna be a ride!

Find all our episodes here or on your preferred Podcast app:

https://backtotheframerate.com

Back to the Frame Rate is on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/backframerate/

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In this week’s episode of Back to the Frame Rate, we dive headfirst into the deep end with James Cameron’s ambitious sci-fi epic, The Abyss. We explore its groundbreaking underwater cinematography and the sheer technical wizardry that pushed filmmaking to new depths—while also calling out where the dialogue and storytelling don’t quite rise to the surface. We break down the differences between the theatrical and special edition cuts, and talk about how they each shape the film’s emotional core. We talk about our recent theater experience seeing Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and The Conjuring: Last Rites. Stick around for our “high pressure and low pressure” movie recommendations—perfect companions to Cameron’s underwater odyssey.

Find all our episodes here or on your preferred Podcast app:

https://backtotheframerate.com

Back to the Frame Rate is on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/backframerate/

Be sure to Follow us @backtotheframerate

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Email us at [email protected]

Follow Nathan on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/nathansuher/

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