The Kick

John Woo’s unparalleled directing career is best known for blazing barrels, shadow selves and slow-motion “heroic bloodshed.” To celebrate the Hong Kong legend’s 75th birthday, we talk Woo's full arc with film scholar Karen Fang. Then, we focus on a sweet spot in Woo’s oeuvre, when he maxed out his Hong Kong street operas with "Hard Boiled"(1992) and transitioned to inimitable American shoot-em-ups “Hard Target” and “Face/Off."

If you don't know Henry Selick by name, you certainly know his puppets. The Stop Motion guru behind "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993), "James and the Giant Peach" (1996) and "Coraline" (2009) has been capturing children's imaginations—and perhaps lovingly scarring them, too—for 30 years. On today's show we're joined by sculptor and constant Selick collaborator Damon Bard to reflect on a one-of-a-kind career.

And your lower-case hosts said, "Let there be Passover Pod." This Passover, Noah and Chance watch three Hollywood adaptations of the Moses story: "The Ten Commandments" (1956), "The Prince of Egypt" (1998) and "Exodus: Gods and Kings" (2014). It's eight hours of plagues and partings, as we pass judgment on epic Exodus, animated Exodus and atheist Exodus. Behold!

In the amnesia puzzler's golden age (1996-2001), blank-slate protagonists from Christopher Nolan, David Lynch and Shane Black generated their own stories. In every case, these histories ended up rosier and nobler than the depraved violence just beneath the surfaces of "Memento" (2001), "Mulholland Drive" (2001) and "The Long Kiss Goodnight" (1996). So let's retrace our steps through this forgetful sub-genre, shall we?

Decades before he carried Batman's breakfast and launched a thousand Cockney impersonations, Michael Caine mostly played transgressors. In late-60s and early 70s films like ALFIE, GET CARTER and THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, Caine brought a streetwise intelligence to a gallery of anti-social rogues: philanderers, killers and colonialists. Ahead of Caine's 88th birthday, Noah and Chance dive into the first act of the English legend's storied career.

Former actor Kasi Lemmons has charted her own cinematic path since tiring of "best friend" roles in mid-90s. The director of "Eve's Bayou" (1997), "Talk To Me" (2007), and "Harriet" (2019) has gradually cultivated a fascinating directorial career. To discuss this pioneering Black female filmmaker and versatile dramatist, we're thrilled to be joined by Professor Christina N. Baker, author of "Kasi Lemmons: Interviews."

On Valentine's Day, "The Silence of the Lambs" celebrates 30 years of haunting imaginations and changing serial-killer cinema forever. On this week's Be Reel, Noah and Chance appreciate the many inimitable qualities of Jonathan Demme's 1991 classic before exploring the full menu of Thomas Harris adaptations: "Manhunter" (1986), "Hannibal" (2001), and "Hannibal Rising" (2007).

Alan J. Pakula was an under-celebrated voice in 1970s American cinema. Most famous for “All the President’s Men," Pakula built a career focused on rule-breakers and the vast conspiracies they untangle. With Criterion Collection releasing “The Parallax View” (1974) this month, Be Reel takes the opportunity to dive into Pakula’s conspiracy/mystery standouts, focusing on “The Parallax View,” “Klute” (1971) and “Presumed Innocent” (1990).

Dolly Parton is a genuine American icon. For her 75th birthday, we revisit the country superstar and EGOT nominee’s three most significant film roles in “9 to 5” (1980), “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” (1982), and “Steel Magnolias” (1989). Also, thank you for funding the Moderna vaccine, Dolly; we will alwaaaaaays love you.

Celebrating the life and career of master spy novelist John le Carré, Be Reel begins 2021 with a mannered, ominous blowout in the deceased writer's honor. From "The Spy Who Came In From the Cold" (1965) to "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), we bite off 6 film adaptations from a man often tagged as the Anti-Bond of the espionage genre. Also dear listeners, we'd be honored if you'd subscribe to our brand new Patreon! Unlock a new bonus episode right now at https://www.patreon.com/bereel?fan_landing=true