“He’s telling you who he is. Believe him.”
Two childhood friends face each other across decades of silence, and only one can walk out champion. Creed III arrives as the first entry in the Rocky/Creed franchise without Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa, marking Michael B. Jordan's directorial debut as he steps behind the camera while still starring as Adonis Creed. Jordan brings anime-inspired visual experimentation to the ring, using exaggerated impact shots, CG-enhanced flesh ripples, and an "ethereal realm" finale that strips away the crowd and leaves only two fighters alone in psychological space.
We dig into what the franchise gains and loses by removing the mentor archetype, how Jonathan Majors delivers a transcendent performance as Damian Anderson despite off-screen controversy, and whether the film's mechanical plotting—hidden letters, engineered confrontations, a mother's stroke—earns its emotional payoff or just shortcuts the work. We argue about Jordan's anime influences: does the stylized visual language elevate the boxing realism or pull you out of it? We also unpack the unresolved subplot about Adonis' daughter and violence, Tessa Thompson's underutilized presence, and whether the locker room reconciliation works because of the performances or in spite of the script. It's a film that divides us—Pete sees a four-star movie doing five-star stuff, while Andy wishes the craft had been matched by stronger writing.
We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel—when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Dig Into Other Shows in Our Family

• Sitting in the Dark: Jonathan Majors starred in Lovecraft Country; we explored more Lovecraft adaptions here
• The Next Reel: Catch Up on our Rocky series and hear us discuss every film that led to this one
• The Film Board: Get more Ryan Coogler conversations with Sinners and Black Panther
• Movies We Like: Hear Creed costume designer Antoinette Messam discuss Amélie

🎬 Watch & Discover

• 🎥 See Our Full Conversation on YouTube
• 🍿 Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
• 📽️ Original Theatrical Trailer

Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year
• Join our Discord community of movie lovers

The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements
• The Film Board
• Movies We Like
• The Next Reel
• Sitting in the Dark

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“Sadly, people don’t buy lady art.”
A painter's work becomes the center of a husband's fraudulent claim. We close out the True Lies series with Big Eyes, Tim Burton's biographical drama about artist Margaret Keane, whose distinctive big-eyed waif paintings were claimed by her controlling husband Walter throughout the 1950s and 60s. The story unfolds against mid-century gender dynamics, when women artists faced skepticism in the commercial art world and wives' agency within marriages was culturally constrained—context that shapes Margaret's complicity in the fraud.
We argue about Burton's surprisingly bland visual approach and whether his restraint serves or undermines the material. We debate Christoph Waltz's theatrical performance choices—does he fit this grounded domestic coercion story, or is he miscast? We praise Amy Adams for carrying the film with emotional clarity even when the movie around her wavers between genuinely threatening sequences (lit matches through the keyhole) and predictable courtroom comedy. We track how the film works better as Margaret's survivor narrative than as a typical fraud story, and we explore alternative casting scenarios that might have changed the tone entirely.
We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel—when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
🎬 Watch & Discover

• 🎥 See Our Full Conversation on YouTube
• 🍿 Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
• 📽️ Original Theatrical Trailer

Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year
• Join our Discord community of movie lovers

The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements
• The Film Board
• Movies We Like
• The Next Reel
• Sitting in the Dark

Connect With Us:

• Main Site: Web
• Movie Platforms: Letterboxd | Flickchart
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | Pinterest
• Your Hosts: Andy | Pete

Shop & Stream:

• Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & more
• Watch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussed
• Originals: Source material from our episodes
• Special offers: Audible

“Sometimes, it’s easier living the lie.”
The most audacious con in the story isn't the forgeries—it's the autobiography. Catch Me If You Can, our second member bonus episode in our True Lies series, is Spielberg's crime comedy-drama built on a biography journalist Alan Logan has since largely debunked—which makes the film more fascinating, not less. Set in a 1960s America where a uniform commanded automatic trust, it was Spielberg's first film about a real living person, and he leaned into the parts that felt most personal: fractured families, absent fathers, and the distances between them.
We dig into whose story this really is—making a strong case that it's more Spielberg's than Abagnale's—and track the father-son dynamics running through both the Frank/Frank Sr. relationship and the unlikely surrogate bond with Carl Hanratty. We also argue about what makes Christopher Walken's performance so quietly extraordinary, and why the role couldn't have landed the same way with anyone else.
The formal elements get serious attention too—Janusz Kamiński's glossy cinematography, John Williams's jazz score, and the Kuntzel + Deygas opening title sequence as a Saul Bass homage that sets the film's entire register before a word of dialogue is spoken. If you've shelved Catch Me If You Can as lighter Spielberg fare, this is the conversation that earns it a second look. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel—when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
If You Want to Keep Going
The Next Reel

• Tom Hanks series: Pete and Andy have covered a number of films in Tom Hanks's filmography—find the full series here
• More Spielberg on The Next Reel: Browse every Spielberg film the show (and a few others) have covered here
• True Lies series: Catch Me If You Can is part of the ongoing member bonus series on real people who lied, fabricated, or constructed false identities—explore the full series right here 

🎬 Watch & Discover

• 🍿 Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
• 📽️ Original Theatrical Trailer
• 📚 Adapted from Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake by Frank W. Abagnale

Want More?
This is a member bonus episode! While we'd love your support, you'll love what membership brings: monthly bonus episodes like this one, ad-free listening, early releases, exclusive Discord channels, and voting rights on future member movies. It truly pays to be a member.Ready to join? Visit TruStory FM to learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

“We’re gonna put television on trial.”
A celebrated academic steps into a television booth and discovers how easy it is to compromise. We continue the True Lies series with "Quiz Show," Robert Redford's examination of the 1950s scandal when NBC's Twenty-One was exposed for feeding contestants answers. The film captures a moment when quiz shows were pitched as inspiring educational programming while sponsors and executives rigged outcomes behind the scenes. Charles Van Doren came from an intellectual family, making his involvement particularly devastating when a lawyer begins investigating the fraud.
We dig into why this is the first film in the series where we genuinely sympathize with the protagonist—Van Doren's descent feels natural rather than desperate, enabled by institutional pressure rather than need. We track the emotional core through four father-son scenes between Charles and Mark Van Doren, examining Paul Scofield's devastating wordless moments. We argue about whether the film lets Van Doren off too easily or whether that discomfort is the point, and we explore how the executives at the top are the real villains, comfortable with lying while lower-level employees take the fall. The iconic isolation booth shot with its dolly-zoom effect becomes a visual metaphor for moral pressure closing in.
We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel—when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
🎬 Watch & Discover

• 🎥 See Our Full Conversation on YouTube
• 🍿 Watch the Film: Amazon | Letterboxd
• 📽️ Original Theatrical Trailer
• 📚 Adapted from Remembering America: A Voice from the Sixties by Richard N. Goodwin

Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year
• Join our Discord community of movie lovers

The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements
• The Film Board
• Movies We Like
• The Next Reel
• Sitting in the Dark

Connect With Us:

• Main Site: Web
• Movie Platforms: Letterboxd | Flickchart
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | Pinterest
• Your Hosts: Andy | Pete

Shop & Stream:

• Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & more
• Watch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussed
• Originals: Source material from our episodes
• Special offers: Audible

“He gave me a prune. Howard Hughes gave me a prune on the beach at Nassau.”
A charismatic writer spins an audacious deception at the highest levels of the publishing world. In "The Hoax," part of our True Lies series, we explore Lasse Hallström's examination of the notorious 1971 literary scandal surrounding Howard Hughes' alleged autobiography, featuring compelling performances by Richard Gere and Alfred Molina.
We dig into how Gere's layered portrayal captures both Irving's magnetic confidence and psychological unraveling, while tracking the fascinating dynamics between the fraudulent author and the publishing industry's willingness to believe his elaborate lies. The film raises provocative questions about institutional complicity and self-deception, with Molina's grounded performance as Irving's research partner providing crucial moral counterweight. The way the film builds Hughes' presence without directly portraying him creates an atmospheric tension that drives the narrative forward.We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel—when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
🎬 Watch & Discover

• 🎥 See Our Full Conversation on YouTube
• 🍿 Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
• 📽️ Original Theatrical Trailer
• 📚 Adapted from The Hoax by Clifford Irving

Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year
• Join our Discord community of movie lovers

The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements
• The Film Board
• Movies We Like
• The Next Reel
• Sitting in the Dark

Connect With Us:

• Main Site: Web
• Movie Platforms: Letterboxd | Flickchart
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | Pinterest
• Your Hosts: Andy | Pete

Shop & Stream:

• Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & more
• Watch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussed
• Originals: Source material from our episodes
• Special offers: Audible

“Did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me?”
Trust is the whole engine—until the details start to wobble. In the True Lies series, we dig into "Shattered Glass," Billy Ray’s newsroom drama about journalism under pressure and the fragile machinery of verification. Along the way, we talk about why the film’s structure can feel like it drops viewers into the “third act,” and how that choice shapes who the audience instinctively follows.
We unpack what the movie shows about fact-checking workflows, where trust can quietly replace proof, and why that’s so unnerving to watch. We argue about Hayden Christensen’s performance choices (charming, off-putting, sometimes read as whiny) and why Peter Sarsgaard becomes the film’s steady source of tension. We also get into the online-vs-print friction the story carries, plus a subtle directing idea about shifting camera stability that may be working on viewers even if they don’t notice it. If you like movies where process becomes suspense, this conversation makes the craft and the discomfort click. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel—when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
🎬 Watch & Discover

• 🎥 See Our Full Conversation on YouTube
• 🍿 Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
• 📽️ Original Theatrical Trailer
• 📚 Adapted from the Vanity Fair article “Shattered Glass” by Buzz Bissinger

Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year
• Join our Discord community of movie lovers

The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements
• The Film Board
• Movies We Like
• The Next Reel
• Sitting in the Dark

Connect With Us:

• Main Site: Web
• Movie Platforms: Letterboxd | Flickchart
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | Pinterest
• Your Hosts: Andy | Pete

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“I had a book on the New York Times Bestseller list. That has to count for something.”
A small crime with big nerves: words, money, and trust under pressure. In True Lies, we dig into "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"—Marielle Heller’s understated character study, anchored by Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant. Because it’s adapted from Lee Israel’s memoir and set inside a tiny collectibles world, the details matter: what “authentic” looks like, who gets believed, and why the hustle feels so tempting.
We unpack how the film treats literary forgery as something stranger than paperwork—more like stealing voices. We argue about the push-pull between desperation and hubris, and how compulsion (drinking, stealing, self-sabotage) shapes the people at the center. We also track the craft: the process beats, the quiet tension in dealer interactions, and why the restraint either sharpens the discomfort or keeps the story at arm’s length. If you like true stories where the mess is interpersonal and the scam is built from language, this conversation is a great match.
We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel—when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Watch & Discover
See Our Full Conversation on YouTube!
Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
Original Theatrical Trailer
Adapted from Can You Ever Forgive Me? A Memoir of a Literary Forger by Lee Israel
If You Liked This, Try These Other The Next Reel Episodes:
Life of the Party (Guilty Pleasures series) for more comedic Melissa McCarthy
Hudson Hawk (Guilty Pleasures series) for more comedic Richard E. Grant
The Diary of a Teenage Girl (Coming of Age Debuts series) for more Marielle Heller
Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year
• Join our Discord community of movie lovers

The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements
• The Film Board
• Movies We Like
• The Next Reel
• Sitting in the Dark

Connect With Us:

• Main Site: Web
• Movie Platforms: Letterboxd | Flickchart
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | Pinterest
• Your Hosts: Andy | Pete

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• Special offers: Audible

“There should be a TV show about a guy who calls home one day and he's there, he answers, he's talking to himself, only he's someone else. He's somehow divided into two, and the second one of him drives away and the rest of the show is about him trying to find the guy.”
Corporate deception spins out of control when an executive's cooperation with the FBI takes unexpected turns. In "The Informant!", Steven Soderbergh directs Matt Damon in a darkly comedic true story that pushes the boundaries of unreliable narration. As a member bonus episode of our True Lies series, we explore how this 2009 film uses innovative voiceover techniques and tonal shifts to keep viewers questioning every revelation.
We dig deep into Soderbergh's careful visual approach to corporate environments, examining how Marvin Hamlisch's playful score creates fascinating tension with the serious subject matter. Damon's against-type performance as Mark Whitacre anchors our discussion of how the film handles complex questions about truth and perspective in whistleblower narratives. The way "The Informant!" balances its comedy with serious themes about mental health and corporate malfeasance makes it a uniquely compelling entry in Soderbergh's experimental period.
We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel—when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
🎬 Watch & Discover

• 🍿 Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
• 📽️ Original Theatrical Trailer
• 📚 Adapted from The Informant: A True Story by Kurt Eichenwald

If You Liked This, Try These Other The Next Reel Episodes:

• The Next Reel
  • Our True Lies series
  • Our Oceans Franchise series
  • Contagion (part of our Disease Films series)
• The Film Board
  • Side Effects
  • Magic Mike’s Last Dance

Want More?
This is a member bonus episode! While we'd love your support, you'll love what membership brings: monthly bonus episodes like this one, ad-free listening, early releases, exclusive Discord channels, and voting rights on future member movies. It truly pays to be a member.
Ready to join? Visit TruStory FM to learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

“With all my heart, I still love the man I killed!”
One shot can change everything—and the shadows don’t let go. In our Bette Davis series, we dive into "The Letter," directed by William Wyler, a studio-era crime drama where a shooting sparks a legal scramble and a single letter becomes leverage. Along the way, we track how Production Code pressure and the film’s colonial framing shape what the story can show, what it chooses to tell, and how the audience is guided (or misdirected).
We dig into the movie’s exposition-heavy early stretch and debate what it gains—and loses—by leaning on characters recounting events instead of playing them out on-screen. We also argue about who the film really positions as the audience’s anchor, and why the attorney’s moral pressure becomes the most compelling engine. And because it can’t be separated from the experience, we confront the film’s racist stereotypes and “yellowface” casting choices, even as we celebrate the moody black-and-white craft that makes key sequences feel electric.
We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel—when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
🎬 Watch & Discover

• 🎥 See Our Full Conversation on YouTube
• 🍿 Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
• 🕸️ Our Bette Davis Series
• 📽️ Original Theatrical Trailer
• 📚 Adapted from the play and the short story The Letter by W. Somerset Maugham

📣 If You Liked This, Try…

• Our 1950 Best Actress Oscar Race Series
• William Wyler episodes
• Our Film Noir Series
• Dark Victory (1940 Best Picture Nominees)

Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year
• Join our Discord community of movie lovers

The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:

• Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements
• The Film Board
• Movies We Like
• The Next Reel
• Sitting in the Dark

Connect With Us:

• Main Site: Web
• Movie Platforms: Letterboxd | Flickchart
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | Pinterest
• Your Hosts: Andy | Pete

Shop & Stream:

• Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & more
• Watch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussed
• Originals: Source material from our episodes
• Special offers: Audible

“She's standing on the corner like an angel in disguise, and as I look a little closer, she's got dangerous eyes.”
Finding Musical Magic in 1980s Dublin
John Carney's 2016 film Sing Street continues his exploration of music's transformative power, following Once and Begin Again with a heartwarming coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of 1980s Dublin. With a modest $4 million budget, Carney crafted an authentic period piece about young love, family dynamics, and the universal language of music. Join us—Pete Wright and Andy Nelson—as we wrap up our John Carney’s Streetwise Musicals series with a walk down Sing Street.
Musical Evolution and Character Growth
Pete and Andy explore how Carney masterfully balances reality and fantasy throughout the film, particularly in how our protagonist Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) develops both musically and personally. The hosts discuss how the film's musical progression mirrors Conor's journey from novice to confident performer, with each new song reflecting his growing artistic voice and emotional maturity.
Period Setting and Authenticity
The hosts delve into Carney's treatment of 1980s Dublin, noting how the film avoids typical period piece clichés while maintaining historical authenticity. They praise the natural integration of era-specific music references and fashion choices that feel organic rather than performative.
Key Discussion Points:

• The chemistry between Conor and Raphina (Lucy Boynton)
• Jack Reynor's standout performance as Brendan
• The evolution of the band's music and visual style
• Treatment of common school drama—and other—tropes
• The balance between realism and wish fulfillment
• Carney's personal connection to the material

Production and Impact
While discussing the film's production, Pete and Andy note how Sing Street demonstrates Carney's growth as a filmmaker, building on themes explored in his previous work while establishing its own unique identity. They examine how the budget allowed for the right balance of production value without losing the intimate feel crucial to the story.
The Power of Collaboration
Pete particularly praises the scenes showing the collaborative songwriting process between Conor and Eamon, highlighting how these moments capture the magic of creative partnership. They discuss how these sequences bring something fresh to Carney's exploration of musical collaboration while maintaining his signature intimate style.We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel—when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
🎬 Watch & Discover

• 🎥 See Our Full Conversation on YouTube
• 🍿 Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
• 📽️ Original Theatrical Trailer

Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:

• Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year
• Join our Discord community of movie lovers

The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:

• Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements
• The Film Board
• Movies We Like
• The Next Reel Film Podcast
• Sitting in the Dark

Connect With Us:

• Main Site: Web
• Movie Platforms: Letterboxd | Flickchart
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | Pinterest
• Your Hosts: Andy | Pete

Shop & Stream:

• Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & more
• Watch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussed
• Originals: Source material from our episodes
• Special offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible