Reel Fanatics

The season’s prestige sci-fi film, Arrival, gets the Reel Fanatics treatment. Jared talks Noirvember and John Garfield. Joe compares a Mizoguchi movie to Whiplash and describes a bad theater experience.

Barry Jenkins’ second feature, Moonlight, is in the spotlight this week. The guys grumble about the presidential election results. Joe and Jared wildly disagree on one of Joe’s recommendations.

In honor—or is that dishonor?—of the U.S. presidential election, the guys share their favorite political films. Joe and Michael disagree with Jared’s categorization of some titles. Michael describes his #1 movie as “an absolute gem that it even exists.” Joe dissects Oliver Stone’s post-JFK creative decline.

After two weeks of lists, the fellas return to reviewing new movies. On the docket: Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation and Ava DuVernay’s 13th. Jared briefly discusses his screenings at Mill Valley Film Festival. Joe describes a movie as a “piss-cutter.”

Autumn is here, and the guys share their favorite films for the season. Joe and Jared upset Michael with their #1 picks. Michael rants about political disenchantment.

Halloween is just around the corner, so the guys share some of their favorite horror movies for the holiday. Jared surprises Michael and Joe with two of his movie blind spots.

The new take on The Magnificent Seven prompts the guys to list their favorite remakes. Michael and Joe make a bet regarding the release strategy for One More Time with Feeling. Jared and Joe disagree on Clint Eastwood’s Sully and lay out their frustrations with Mr. Robot S2.

Jared talks about his experience at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival and reveals the best movies, worst movies, pleasant surprises, and disappointments in this year’s lineup. Joe manages to work in references to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Gremlins 2: The New Batch.

Michael, Jared, and Joe have different reactions to the latest Herzog documentary. Joe analyzes the awfulness of 2016’s summer movie slate. Michael starts a debate about the sustained recognizability of Billy Elliot.

Jared and Joe praise King Hu’s A Touch of Zen to the heavens, but Michael can’t find an “in” to the wuxia genre. The conversation quickly turns into a discussion about how certain film movements and national cinemas appeal to some people more than others. Michael asserts the necessity of preparation through research before screening; [...]