In Reel Deep Podcast

For our very special 100th episode, there was only one film we wanted to cover: Orson Welles' Citizen Kane. Widely regarded as the best movie ever made, Kane is a masterpiece, and timelier than ever in the era of President Donald Trump. We break down its origins, its impact, and why Welles' work stands the test of time when so many other movies from that era do not.

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We've reached the end of our journey through the selected filmography of Tom Hanks: 2019's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, also known as The Mr. Rogers Movie. It's Tom's first true supporting role in quite a while, and it earned him an Oscar nomination for his trouble. What does this film's success mean for the future of Hanks? And what was our favorite Tom film to revisit? Join us for a podcasting farewell to America's last great movie star.

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There may not be a better one-two cinematic combo than 1979's Alien and 1986's Aliens. Ridley Scott's masterpiece melded sci-fi and horror like peanut butter and jelly, and James Cameron's follow-up is a fantastic action film that cemented Sigourney Weaver as a star among stars. To celebrate October, that classic month of horror, we're revisiting those magic moments when the xenomorph burst into our pop-culture consciousness.

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The Da Vinci Code came out to great fanfare in 2006, followed by two relatively successful sequels, yet we still have no idea why Tom Hanks decided to play Robert Langdon. Best-case scenario is "nerdy Indiana Jones," and this is far from the best case. As we near the end of our jaunt through Tom's filmography, we examine the reasons why this bland, useless, 149-minute monstrosity not only made it to the silver screen but grossed $760 million worldwide. 

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Medicine for goat! Our trip through the Tom Hanks filmography has led us to 2004's The Terminal, without a doubt the oddest Hanks/Steven Spielberg team-up. Tom's beyond charming as Krakozhia's Viktor Navorski, but in retrospect this was the beginning of the end of his run as a no-doubt box office superstar. Join us as we dissect why the two Hollywood titans made this film and then cringe at the idea of watching a Robert Langdon movie next.

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The last time the world's economy tanked, back in 2008, it wasn't because of a global pandemic. It was because a handful of billionaires, mostly Americans, decided to rig our financial system for their benefit. As a result, trillions of dollars were lost, the planet spun into economic ruin, and few — if any — people stood trial for their crimes. Those crimes were captured in the documentary Inside Job and the drama Margin Call; we've brought self-taught financial crisis whiz Dr. Chris back on the pod to dissect how those two films depicted what might be the greatest crime humans have ever committed.

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Next up in our Tom Hanks miniseries? 2000's Cast Away, also known as the apex of his storied acting career. At the turn of the century, there was no one bigger than Hanks, which is why a movie where his costars are Helen Hunt, Nick Searcy and a volleyball made $420 million worldwide and got him an Oscar nomination. Join us as we break down what makes this Robert Zemeckis survival film so special.

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We've reached the end of our crime miniseries, and we're going out with a bang: 2007's No Country for Old Men, perhaps the shiniest gem in the Coen brothers' catalog. Beyond a life-changing performance from Javier Bardem and some of the tensest scenes you'll ever see, this film has plenty to say about crimes and the people who commit them. Join as we break down one of the rare Best Picture winners that the Oscars got right.

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Our journey through the Tom Hanks filmography originally led us down The Green Mile, but over the course of 189 minutes of supposed movie magic we realized that it...wasn't very good. So we called an audible; not only are you getting some Frank Darabont banter but we're also returning to Nora Ephron and Meg Ryan to discuss You've Got Mail as well. Did we like it more than the much-maligned Sleepless in Seattle? You'll have to join us to find out.

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Our journey through crime films continues with David Fincher's Seven, the 1995 thriller that still holds up despite [REDACTED] as the surprise villain. Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt remain a dynamic duo, and the script has much to say about the sins of society, messages that still ring true 25 years later. Join us as we dissect this crime classic while wondering if Pitt deserved his subsequent MTV Movie Award for Most Desirable Male.

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