Reel Deep Dive

Reel Deep Dive

By Ryan ValentineArtsPerforming Arts
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Reel Deep Dive episodes

  • Flashdance (1983)

    One of the defining cultural touchstones of the decade it came out in, Flashdance is a sloppy, tonally-inconsistent, and amateurishly-crafted film that happens to have an exhilaratingly charismatic lead actress, some instantly-memorable dance sequences, and a soundtrack filled with absolute bangers. While Flashdance got miserable reviews and its studio expected it to be an utter failure, that soundtrack album sold millions of copies and it gradually turned the movie into a word-of-mouth sleeper hit.


    Ryan is joined by Cheryl and Sylvan for a conversation about this lumpy, ridiculous, and weirdly-compelling movie. Discussion topics include how the movie's central romantic plot points are corrupted by the wide age difference and power levels of the two characters, why Flashdance was smart to prioritize certain elements of itself over others, and how Flashdance is a (probably accidental) indictment of how the neoliberal philosophical ideals popularized by F.A. Hayek affected the arts.   

    33 min
  • Rebel Without A Cause (1955)

    Originally envisioned as a trashy, lowbrow exploitation thriller, Rebel Without A Cause got a massive boost to its budget when the success of East Of Eden (1955) convinced Warner Brothers that James Dean was a rising star worth more of an investment. Alongside director Nicholas Ray, Dean carefully molded the coming-of-age story into a tragic, Shakespearean melodrama. Released just after Dean's sudden death, Rebel Without A Cause struck a nerve in the American psyche and has remained a pop culture fixture to the present day.


    Ryan is joined by Rachel for an in-depth breakdown of this Hollywood classic. Discussion topics include how Rebel Without A Cause marked a shift in how mainstream America perceived masculinity, why the term "teenager" became a part of common parlance in the mid-20th century, how Rebel Without A Cause uses queercoding to define one of its main characters, and why Hollywood often embraces tragedy porn whenever they tell queer stories.  

    There's also a segment where Ryan discusses how the concept of the literary canon differs from a corresponding film canon. Rebel Without A Cause is used as a case study for this point since, while it is almost inarguably included in the film canon, it is not nearly as widely-seen as Casablanca, The Wizard Of Oz, or The Godfather. 

    54 min
  • Belladonna Of Sadness (1973)

    This episode features a frank discussion about the multiple scenes of sexual assault that occur in the film. If that doesn't sound like the sort of thing you'd like to sit through, we'd advise you to sit this installment out.


    After some poor business decisions from founder Osamu Tezuka, animation studio Mushi Production was in dire financial straits. Thinking that a shift in creative direction would be prudent, Mushi put out a series of animated features with the then bold decision of targeting an adult audience instead of a juvenile one. Belladonna Of Sadness was the third and final attempt in this failed initiative; it sank like a rock at the box office, but gradually grew an appreciative cult audience due to its painterly animation, daring subject matter, and a pristine restoration in the 21st century.

    Ryan is joined by Sylvan and Cheryl for an extensive look at this parable about witchcraft, class struggle, and religious hypocrisy. Thematic subjects under discussion include historical revisionism, whether Belladonna Of Sadness can be argued as a feminist film, and the subterfuge of patriarchal figures using countercultural posturing in order to sneak into progressive spaces (this episode was recorded shortly after sexual harassment and workplace abuse allegations were made against writer/director Joss Whedon). 

    33 min
  • The Godfather (1972)

    One of the most popular, acclaimed, and widely-seen Hollywood films ever made, The Godfather contains a multitude of thematic subtext and its behind-the-scenes drama is about as thoroughly documented as humanly possible. As such, while all art is subjective, The Godfather is especially emblematic of this since there's absolutely no way that Ryan and Rachel can cover absolutely everything over the course of a single podcast episode. So, while this is true of every installment of Reel Deep Dive, it is particularly apparent that the hosts will be revealing more about themselves than anything else based on what elements of The Godfather tapestry that they choose to talk about.


    Among those elements include the movie's approach to masculinity, how The Godfather reflects perceptions of immigrants in the United States, what informed director Francis Ford Coppola's creative decisions, and how this movie influenced how we all interpret the people and iconography depicted within.    

    1 hr 17 min
  • Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm (1993)

    Spinning off from the popular and acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, Mask Of The Phantasm was initially intended for a direct-to-video release. However, Warner Brothers quickly decided to give the film a theatrical release and, after a rush to convert the animation to this format, Mask Of The Phantasm was released to little fanfare and indifferent box office. Despite this, Mask Of The Phantasm performed well on home video and its reputation has grown steadily as the years have gone on. These days, it is not uncommon for Mask Of The Phantasm to be argued as the finest Batman movie ever produced.


    That's the opinion of Ryan and his cohosts Sylvan and Cheryl. Mask Of The Phantasm was a childhood staple for all three of them and there's plenty of wistful nostalgic musing on this recording. Other discussion topics include how the personal trauma of writer Paul Dini affected the movie, how producer Bruce Timm can't stand to watch the movie, why the impossibility of Batman doesn't seem to cloud a mass audience from identifying with the character, and how Mask Of The Phantasm is the rare Batman movie that's actually about Batman.

    52 min
  • Lady Snowblood (1973)

    Loosely adapted from Kazuo Koike and Kazuo Kamimura's manga series, Lady Snowblood is a chanbara film centering on a young lady (Meiko Kaji) striving to enact vengeance for the murder of her father and rape of her mother. Filled with stylized melodrama, bold storytelling choices, and gallons of cartoonish gore, Lady Snowblood struck enough of a chord to result in a sequel, at least two remakes, a slot in the Criterion Collection, and a loving homage in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill movies.


    Ryan is joined by Cheryl and Sylvan for a closer look at this mesmerizing action movie. Discussion topics include Meiko Kaji's thousand yard stare, the story's interpretation of the Meiji period, how Lady Snowblood reflects the 1970's more often than its period setting, and how the story's use of Buddhist principles stand in contrast to the dictates of the chanbara genre.

    35 min
  • Key Episodes: The Simpsons by Conan O'Brien (1992-93)

    One of the bedrock pop cultural institutions of its time, The Simpsons is unsurprisingly a formative TV experience for many of the commentators on Reel Deep Dive. Like with The Twilight Zone, Ryan has decided to tackle the program by doing a series of recordings where he and his guests break down the program by focusing on the most influential members of its writing staff.


    First up is Conan O'Brien, whose long career as a talk show host makes him the only Simpsons writer who's a celebrity outside of nerd circles. We're taking a look at the three full episodes of The Simpsons O'Brien wrote before he got an opportunity to replace David Letterman on NBC. His tenure may not have been lengthy, but O'Brien was a big presence on The Simpsons as it transitioned away from its relatively grounded early period and began infusing more of the absurdism and satire that it would become beloved for. O'Brien's Simpsons reputation is also bolstered by the fact that one of his episodes, "Marge And The Monorail", is frequently argued as an all-timer in TV history.

    Ryan is joined by Rachel and Sylvan for this one. Discussion topics include corporate malfeasance, how mass media can warp public opinion, and the relatability of a kid crushing on a cool older girl. 

    46 min
  • Mermaids (1990)

    Partially a romantic comedy and partially a coming-of-age drama about Catholic teen angst, Mermaids centers upon Rachel Flax (Cher), a flighty single mother who suddenly relocates to a small Massachusetts town on a whim. Most of the dramatic tension comes from the conflict between Mrs. Flax and her daughter Charlotte (Winona Ryder), a neurotic teen who's embraced Catholicism at least partially to rebel against her mother's libertine inclinations. However, things are complicated further when Mrs. Flax is courted by warm-hearted shoe salesman Louis (Bob Hoskins) and Charlotte's raging hormones put her in the path of twentysomething bus driver Joe (Michael Schoeffling). Christina Ricci, making her screen debut, fleshes out the cast as the younger Flax daughter Kate.


    Alternatively sweet and emotive, Mermaids pulls off the risky gambit of accurately recreating the awkwardness of teenage life without making audiences so uncomfortable that they have to stop watching. Mermaids wasn't profitable upon its release, but its soundtrack was a surprise hit and the endearing performances eventually won the movie an appreciative audience in the years ahead.

    Ryan is joined by Sylvan and Cheryl for an in-depth deconstruction of this well-regarded sleeper. Discussion topics include religious identity, the inability of one to escape their roots, and how sexual politics have evolved since the movie's period setting.

    41 min
  • Howard The Duck (1986)

    Based on a goofy, satirical comic book published by Marvel in the 1970's, Howard The Duck was produced by George Lucas when he was considered the man with the Midas touch. One of the most infamous box office failures of all time, the movie lost money, ruined careers, and flooded the world with duck puns. However, because of its omnipresence on basic cable and video rental store shelves, this film gradually became a cult favorite among Gen X and millennial audiences.  


    Ryan is joined by Cheryl for a close reading of this weird mess. Those of you looking for Ryan and Cheryl to either mercilessly dunk on this film or proclaim it to be a secret masterpiece are in for disappointment; neither of the voices on this episode will tell you that Howard The Duck is a great film, but it is argued that Howard The Duck is an interesting project that reflects a great deal of what Hollywood was prioritizing in a time when the status quo was shifting rapidly. Discussion points for this one include how Howard The Duck diverges from its source material, how the story comments on a uniquely adolescent sense of alienation, and whether Howard has a future now that Marvel is one of the most profitable brands in mass media. 

    33 min
  • A Night At The Opera (1935)

    Duck Soup (1933) is currently seen as one of the best comedic films ever made, but its reception was a bit lukewarm in its time and The Marx Brothers were soon looking for a new studio for their antics. They ultimately found a juicy contract with MGM, at that point the biggest filmmaker in Hollywood. In an effort to make the Marx Brothers more marketable to audiences, MGM insisted that the comedians sand down the rough edges of their routines, alter their personas to become more likable, and commit to a crowd-pleasing formula. This would result in lesser-regarded product down the line, but A Night At The Opera was a big hit that revived the Marx Brothers brand and is looked upon by posterity as one of their finest.


    Ryan is joined by Sylvan and Cheryl for a breakdown of this historic comedy, a dialogue that delves into its anarchic production and an exploration of how A Night At The Opera was a key influence on Mel Brooks, Queen, Looney Tunes, Cyndi Lauper, and much more. Discussion points also include how the film panders to its Depression-era audience, the storytelling's odd relationship with Italian fascism, how the Marx Brothers contrasted their vaudevillian background with the reputation of "high art", and why Hollywood remains an inherently conservative institution despite its reliance upon appropriating countercultural themes for its content.

    39 min

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