Reel Film Chronicles

We were long overdue for another episode featuring fan and podcast-favourite Nic Cage, and what better film for discussion than the much anticipated LONGLEGS? We're going to give a quick rundown of recent Nic Cage films, as well as director Osgood Perkins filmography before we jump headfirst into the feature film. We have lots to say for a film with lots of genres - we think there's a little something for everyone here. Get yourself comfortable and listen in!

Also, go watch the movie first! We don't hold back on spoilers in our discussion (we give plenty of warning in the episode).

Longlegs (2024)

directed by: Osgood Perkins

starring: Maika Monroe - Nicolas Cage - Blair Underwood - Alicia Witt

genres: horror - crime - thriller

runtime: 101 min

REEL FILM CHRONICLES

Facebook | Instagram

Letterboxd | IMDb | TMDB

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. *

directed by: Kevin Costner

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

genres: western

runtime: 181 minutes

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.

directed by: Guy Ritchie

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

genres: action - war - drama

runtime: 120 minutes

Operation Postmaster (Wikipedia)

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. *

directed by: George Miller

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

genres: action - adventure - science-fiction

runtime: 149min

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.

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.

directed by: Caitlin Cronenberg

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

genres: science fiction - horror - thriller

runtime: 93 min

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!

| directed by: Paul W. S. Anderson

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

| science fiction - mystery - horror

| 95 min

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).

| directed by: Denis Villeneuve

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

| adventure - science fiction

| 167 min

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.

| directed by: Grant Singer

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

| crime

| 136min

https://boxd.it/wKjc

* Rated explicit/mature for language and subject matter.

Welcome to the world of The Killer and watch as obsessive, perfectionist filmmaker David Fincher tells the story of an obsessive, perfectionist killer living out his either his worst nightmare or darkest fantasy: his life spiraling out of control after an extra ruins his perfect shot then going on a bloody rampage to get revenge against everybody who has ever wronged him. If I were one of the executives at Fox who had anything to do with Alien 3, I'd probably sleep with at least one eye open from now on. With The Killer, Fincher continues his tradition of protagonists who are weird, misanthropic, and/or emotionally detached loners, live by a very specific set of rules, and wax philosophical about humanity's inhumanity in endless voiceover. A self-described unremarkable man who is exceptional at his job through endless, obsessive practice and meticulous attention to detail, the titular killer is perhaps the most appropriately autobiographical self-insert character that Fincher could have imagined. With murder, mayhem, and a shady underworld of secret assassins (no, not THAT world of secret assassins), and meditations on how the thin veil of civility that is society barely conceals the base instincts of the human race at bay and our most cherished ideals are all lies carefully disseminated to help the powerful exploit the masses, The Killer is sure to delight viewers of all ages. So join your intrepid hosts as we delve into the world of The Killer, explore the latest twisted entry into David Fincher's pantheon, and try our best to avoid ending up on any hit lists of our own.

THE KILLER (2023)

| directed by: David Fincher

| starring: Michael Fassbender - Tilda Swinton - Charles Parnell - Arliss Howard - Kerry O’Malley - Sophie Charlotte

| Thriller - Crime

| 118 min

https://letterboxd.com/ryebone/list/reel-film-chronicles-podcast/

https://letterboxd.com/film/the-killer-2023/