“Why not breed a parasite that can do something useful?”

David Cronenberg has long been called the ‘king of body horror,’ which is a title that he came to early in his career. When looking at his first theatrical feature, Shivers, it’s perhaps easy to see why he was dubbed with this moniker, and also easy to see why it stuck. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our David Cronenberg series with his 1975 film Shivers.

We talk about the nature of Cronenberg’s films and why this film fits that Cronenberg style. We look at some of the strong work Cronenberg puts together as he gets the film started. We look at sloppy elements within the film that feel very much like a first-time filmmaker’s stumbling blocks. We debate if there’s a way to make a horror movie effective if the end result is everyone having sex. And we chat about body horror and what this film does to make itself stand out.

It’s an interesting film that works on some levels while not on others, but we still enjoyed it and had a great time talking about it on the show this week. Check it out! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

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Film Sundries

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“Rise and rise again until lambs become lions.”

When Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott signed on to make Nottingham, a revisionist take on the Robin Hood myth that pitted a Sherlock Holmes-like Sheriff of Nottingham against the villainous Robin, little did anyone realize where it would end up. After years of rewrites, Scott had the version of the myth that he wanted to make, taking on a much more historical angle placing Robin in the middle of the political machinations leading to the Magna Carta. But is that where it should have landed instead of where it started? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we conclude our Robin Hood series with Scott’s 2010 film Robin Hood.

We talk about Scott and his seeming need to release extended cuts of his films, as if he can’t get it right the first time. We look at why they felt this version of the story needed to be told and if it works for us. We chat about the ages of the various actors who we’ve seen play the title character and if we feel the age really matters with this story. We look at Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, and more and chat about what they’re bringing to the table. We look at the tropes of the myth and discuss if this film hits them or not. And we discuss what makes epic moments epic versus simply overblown.

It’s an interesting film that’s beautiful to look at, and certainly plays with the myth quite a bit. Tune in to this week’s show to hear us chat. The Next Reel. When the movie ends, our conversation begins.

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Film Sundries

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Pulling off a good parody can be quite difficult. Mel Brooks has done it a few times, but he’s also made some lesser parody films that don’t quite hold up. So where did his sendup of the Robin Hood myths end up? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Robin Hood series with Brooks’ 1993 film Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

We talk about parody films and look at why a parody film of the Robin Hood films, particularly Prince of Thieves from two years earlier, seemed like a good idea at the time. We also debate how well it worked – just because there are laughs, does that mean it’s a success? We chat about several cast members like Richard Lewis, Dave Chappelle, Amy Yasbeck, Roger Rees, and Tracey Ullman, and what they bring to the table, but most of our praise lies with Cary Elwes and the brilliant job he does at playing a spot-on perfect Robin Hood while also jumping in wholeheartedly to the Brooks comedy pool. We ponder how timeless a film like this can be. And we praise Brooks for some catchy tunes.

It’s a fun film that is perhaps rightfully called a ‘lesser Brooks film,’ but entertaining enough. Tune in to this week’s show to check it out! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

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Film Sundries

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• Script Transcript
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Every few years it seems, two films telling the same (or similar) story start production near the same time and inevitably, it turns into a race to see who gets to the box office first and who ends up the victor. Armageddon vs. Deep Impact. Antz vs. A Bug’s Life. Snow White and the Huntsman vs. Mirror Mirror. So when John Irvin’s film was set to release opposite Kevin Reynolds’ Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the studio balked and opted to just release it on television in the States. But does that mean the film was bad? Or just not, well, a fun Hollywood romp? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Robin Hood series with Irvin’s 1991 film Robin Hood.

We talk about what works in this film, but how unfortunately all of that is thrown out of balance by everything that doesn’t work. We marvel at the fact that this is the film that Robin Hood scholars say is closest to the myths. We chat about the performances and wonder if the rough performances are because of the script, the direction, or the actors themselves. And we chat about some changes made to the myth that actually make for a more interesting film, or at least would have if the rest around them worked better.

It’s a frustrating entry to our series, but certainly allows for a fun-filled chat, so tune in! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

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Film Sundries

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Kevin Costner and Kevin Reynolds had been buddies from early in their careers before Reynolds directed Fandango, which starred Costner. Their friendship lasted for a decade before temporarily being waylaid by the production problems on Waterworld, but before their rift, they were called upon to make an update of the Robin Hood tale. The film received mixed reviews but audiences loved it and it became the second highest grossing film in 1991. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Robin Hood series with Reynolds’ rousing 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

We talk about the myth of Robin Hood and how some of that history influenced this story. We chat about Costner, our opinions of him as an actor and how he does in this role. We look at some of the rest of the cast – Morgan Freeman, Alan Rickman, Christian Slater, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Wincott – and talk about what they bring to the table. We also give a nod to the Sean Connery cameo and discuss how it works for us. We talk about the scenes added back in for the extended edition and wonder how much they’re needed. And we praise Michael Kamen’s score, which is still as thrilling now as it was then.

It’s a film with problems that are more visible now, but still one that’s a blast to watch. Check it out then tune in! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

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Film Sundries

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When Sean Connery agreed to star in The Death of Robin Hood, the James Bond star was thrilled to play a character where they wouldn’t ask him to come back for a sequel. But when the film was renamed Robin and Marian to be more marketable, did that affect the way the film was perceived? Or was the script reworked to try and capture the romance? It’s hard to say, but it does make for interesting discussion. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Robin Hood series with Richard Lester’s 1976 film Robin and Marian.

We talk about the expectations of a film about an old Robin Hood and the romance and wonder what would’ve made it work the way it was meant to. Was it the script by John Goldman and some sloppy comedy elements? Was it something in Lester’s direction, or perhaps the performances by Connery, Audrey Hepburn, Robert Shaw, Richard Harris, or one of the other great actors in it? We look at what Lester brings to the film and where it fits in his career. We argue about our readings of moments in the film, especially the climactic finale. And we touch on John Barry’s score and wonder if Michel Legrand’s rejected score may have worked better.

It’s an interesting film and a welcome entry in our series, but perhaps just because it changes the story in ways that allow it to be interesting because of those changes. 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.

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Film Sundries

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Walt Disney had long been interested in telling the story of Reynard the Fox, but never could find the way to tell it that he thought would be palatable to kids. Because of that, it kept getting shelved. After Disney’s death, they finally found a way to integrate the anthropomorphic characters into an animated film. It wasn’t Reynard the Fox as it turned out but the story of Robin Hood.

For people growing up in the 70s, this version of Robin Hood is often cited as the one that was the most influential as far as impressions of this tale. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Robin Hood series with Wolfgang Reitherman’s 1973 animated film Robin Hood.

We talk about our memories of the film and whether it’s held up all these years later. We look at the characterizations of the main players and debate whether they should’ve been so simplistic or if it works just the way it was. We chat about the stellar cast and how everyone worked so well (even if we disagree about how Prince John is portrayed). We touch on the animation style that Disney was using at the time and how it affects this film. We look at where this film was pulling from for its references. And we realize that perhaps this film, Chicken Little, and Zootopia are all a part of the same cinematic universe.

It’s Disney lite with this film, something that’s fun but also a bit forgettable. Still, we have a great time discussing it. Check it out then tune into this week’s show! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

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Film Sundries

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It seemed fitting for Jack Warner and Warner Bros. to stick with a gangster picture for their big 60s musical. The fact that they tied the Robin Hood character into it was a pretty clever way to put a twist on it and make it stand out. And, of course, bringing Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack on board made perfect sense – Frank, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. were all amazing singers. But how well would it work out? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Robin Hood series with Gordon Douglas’s 1964 film Robin and the 7 Hoods.

We talk about what works in the film for us and what doesn’t. We look at Sinatra and debate how much he’s bringing to the project and why it was a particularly difficult film for him to finish. We chat about the musical numbers and if any song is as memorable as ‘My Kind of Town,’ the most notable of the lot. And we look at how the film works in the mythology of Robin Hood and how the changes work.

It’s an interesting and unique film in the telling of Robin Hood that often doesn’t work but which they’re always doing their best to make it fun. We have a good time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

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Film Sundries

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Tasmanian Errol Flynn had already proven himself a solid action star for Warner Bros. in films like Captain Blood, so when the dealings with James Cagney to play Robin Hood fell through, Flynn seemed like a logical choice. And it’s lucky for all of us that things went this way because Flynn created one of the most iconic portrayals of Robin Hood that has graced the silver screen. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Robin Hood series to talk about Michael Curtiz’s and William Keighley’s 1938 film The Adventures of Robin Hood.

We talk about the differences in the myths and portrayals of the title character between this and the Douglas Fairbanks version, and how these differences affect our opinion of the film. We look at Errol Flynn and how effective he is as the titular character. We chat about the rest of the cast that stands out to us – Olivia de Havilland, Alan Hale, Claude Rains, and Basil Rathbone. We discuss the stunt work – both archery and swordplay – and how it all came together to make for incredibly effective action sequences. And we touched on the fabulous use of technicolor.

It’s a wonderful and thrilling film that’s well worth checking out. It holds up as a central figure in the modern Robin Hood myths. We have a great time chatting about it. Check it out then tune in! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

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Film Sundries

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Stories of Robin Hood, the nobleman who stole from the rich to give to the poor, go back for centuries, with tales as far back as the 1300s. The story has been told in countless ways, and when cinema was invented, filmmakers began telling this story on film. The first version was made in 1908, but the first one that really created an iconic character of Robin Hood was Allan Dwan’s 1922 tale starring Douglas Fairbanks. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off a new series looking at cinematic versions of Robin Hood with Dwan’s 1922 film Robin Hood.

We talk about what works in the film and what doesn’t – notably the long setup of the main character. We look at Fairbanks and gauge how well he works for us. We look at some of the other key performers and how well they play. We discuss the tone shifts – from silly, cartoon humor to violent murder scenes. We talk about the tropes of Robin Hood and what works here. And we touch on King Richard the Lion-Hearted’s possible homosexuality and how (and if) this film deals with it.

It’s an interesting film to start off with and one that will be a fun benchmark for the rest of the films in the series. So check it out then tune in to this week’s show on The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

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Film Sundries

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