Cédric Klapisch returned to the world of Xavier, Wendy, Isabelle and Martine with his 2013 film Chinese Puzzle in a story that takes place 10 years after the previous film. Is it a return worth taking? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Spanish Apartment trilogy with Klapisch’s 2013 film.

We talk about what works and what doesn’t this go-around. We look at the nature of infidelity and ponder about why it’s so consistent in Klapisch’s films. We chat about the male gaze (again) and why some of the lesbian material in here is bothersome. We discuss the Chinatown elements of the film and why they work so nicely, even if we don’t get the relationship resolution from it that we wanted. And we look at the nature of storytelling with unlikeable characters and why that’s okay … if there are consequences for their actions.

It’s a frustrating end to the trilogy for us, but a film still enjoyable and one that makes for great conversation. So check it out then tune in to this week’s show! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

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Film Sundries

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"How can I write a love story? I know nothing about love. I’m a self-centered egotist."

Cédric Klapisch got a chance to return to the life of Xavier from his successful 2002 film L’Auberge Espagnole just a few years later, but how well does it work out? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our series on Klapisch’s Spanish Apartment trilogy with his 2005 film Russian Dolls.

We look at why this film is vastly more frustrating that its predecessor and that all of our difficulties stem from an unlikeable protagonist. We discuss why the focus on love is a real challenge in a world sullied by Klapisch’s and Xavier’s ‘male gaze’. We look at the creativity in the filmmaking style, why it works in some places, and why it fails in others. And we look at the rest of the wonderful cast and discuss their interesting roles.

It’s a frustrating follow-up to a film that we liked a lot, largely because it feels like Klapisch didn’t have as strong a direction with it. Regardless, 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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"Life seems simpler for everyone else."

Cédric Klapisch had been making films in France for ten years before he made his little film about a group of study abroad students from all over Europe working to understand each other, discover a new culture, and find themselves along the way. This little film, L’Auberge Espagnole, aka The Spanish Apartment or Potluck depending on where you find it, connected with people and became his biggest success. And rightly so – it’s a charming film about figuring out what to do with your life and is made by a filmmaker who clearly is having fun while making it. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off a series about Klapisch’s ‘Spanish Apartment’ trilogy with his 2002 film L’Auberge Espagnole.

We talk about the charm of this film and why it works so well with us. We look at some of the cast – notably Romain Duris, Judith Godrèche, Audrey Tautou, Cécile de France, Kevin Bishop, and Kelly Reilly – and why they all manage to work so well in their roles. We look at the nature of infidelity and how it fits into a story like this. And we talk about some of the clever filmmaking to sell the insanity of the ‘structured’ world and why it makes for such a visually fun film.

It’s a joyful film to watch and one that works really well for us. 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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"All you gotta do is trust me."

It took a number of years for this latest remake of A Star Is Born to come to fruition, but it seems like everything worked out the way it was supposed to. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga really connected with people and the film was incredibly well received, both critically and by audiences. Will there be other iterations of this story down the road? If we’ve learned anything from doing this series, Warner Bros. loves this story – and loves that each version makes them more money – so give it a couple of decades and we’ll likely see it come around again. But for now, join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our “A Star Is Born” series with Cooper’s 2018 version of A Star Is Born.

We talk about the elements that have been consistent through these films that really work well here – the meet cute, Jackson’s success and fall, Ally’s place before her discovery, the rise, the award ceremony, the people in their lives, etc. We look at what Cooper and Gaga are doing throughout the film and why it works so well. We chat about Sam Elliott and why he was such inspiration for Cooper with his character. We talk about the process of performing the music live and why that was important. And we look at the connection Jon Peters has to it and why he gets a credit.

It’s a great conversation about a great film that wraps up a very interesting series, 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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"Your own personal piece of the American dream."

Like the remake before it, Barbra Streisand’s decision to produce and play the lead in her own version of A Star Is Born likely had something to do with ego, but it’s hard to argue that the story is also one with two wonderfully rich characters at the heart of it – characters any actor would likely want to perform. Regardless, Streisand opposite Kris Kristofferson, who was also a big musical talent at the time, seemed like a perfect fit for this version. But it didn’t land quite as strongly for us as the previous two did. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our “A Star Is Born” series with Frank Pierson’s 1976 take on A Star Is Born.

We debate what it is about this version of the story that leads us to find it the weakest of the three iterations thus far. We talk about Streisand and Kristofferson, what they each bring to the role, and how well they work for us. We look at the tone the film takes – very much a 70s feel – and how each of the versions thus far have really found a way to wholly ground themselves in their own period. We look at the songs and discuss how they work for us. And we look at some of the beats that repeat throughout these films and talk about why some don’t work that well here.

It’s an interesting film to discuss in this series because the tone feels so different. It’s not our favorite of the lot, but it certainly provides a lot to talk about, so check it out then tune in to this week’s show. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!

Film Sundries

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"I thought I was the answer for Norman, but love isn’t strong enough for him.”

By the time 30-year-old Judy Garland was gearing up for her film comeback in George Cukor’s remake of A Star Is Born, she had already had a career full of ups and downs, almost mimicking both of the two main characters in the film. The recent buzz for her wonderful stage shows and for her having cleaned up her act led her new husband, Sidney Luft, to convince Warner Bros. that she was worth taking a chance on with this remake. They thought so too, and the story from 1937 was reborn with Garland and James Mason. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our “A Star Is Born” series with the 1957 Cukor version.

We talk about the nature of musicals and why this musical doesn’t work as well for us. We look at what Garland and Mason both bring to the table and why their relationship works so well in the film. We discuss how the film came to be and why it ended up getting chopped up in the editing stage before being released. And we look at the similarities and differences between the versions so far, noting why this version doesn’t work as well for us as the previous version does.

It’s an interesting film that has strength in the story but gets bogged down in the musical numbers, at least as far as we’re concerned. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in to this week’s show! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

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Film Sundries

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"Remember, Esther: for every dream of yours you make come true, you’ll pay the price in heartbreak."

The story is one that people connect with – a desire to follow your dreams, as crazy as they may be, and what happens when you make it. But with the rise of a new talent in each iteration of A Star Is Born, we also see the decline of another. Perhaps it’s that emotional balance between these two journeys that makes this such a popular story to tell and retell. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our “A Star Is Born” series right at the beginning with William A. Wellman’s 1937 film A Star Is Born.

We talk about the origins of the film and how it was really birthed in George Cukor’s 1932 film What Price Hollywood?. We look at Janet Gaynor and Fredric March as our two leads and what they bring to the table. We discuss the story issues we have with the film, notably the disappearance of our lead’s family from the story for the bulk of the film, and why it feels problematic. And we look at the technical side of the film, notably the beautiful technicolor cinematography by W. Howard Greene, as well as Max Steiner’s score (plus a song we didn’t know was part of the film apparently).

It’s a great start to our series and certainly is one that sets the stage for the tale of fame and tragedy that we’re going to be seeing over and over again. We have a great time discussing 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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"Remember why you’re climbing these steps."

In a franchise so full of sequels, it was inevitable that the success of the spin-quel Creed would be followed up with its own sequel. And while Ryan Coogler was busy on Black Panther, Sylvester Stallone and his team found a very capable director with Steven Caple Jr. The movie was released in 2018 and was a box office hit, even if people largely found it to be ‘just another sequel’ in the Rocky franchise. But is it more than that? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our look at the Rocky films with Caple’s 2018 film Creed II.

We talk about bringing back the Russians, the strength of making it a story about family, and why it all ties together so nicely. We look at the cast and why they all work so well in their respective parts, especially the supporting characters who never feel like they get sidelined. We chat about the look and how it never quite finds the magical look we get in fight scenes in the previous films, but how it still looks nice. We look at how relationships are developed throughout the film and the franchise. We touch on Stallone’s comments about retiring the character Rocky after this film. And we look at the franchise as a whole and why it works so well for us.

It’s a great film that stands up above many other sequels because the people behind it clearly had a great story to tell and kept it honest. We have a great time talking about it on the show this week, 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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"Use the name. It’s yours."

Returning to the Rocky story without Rocky helming might sound like a big misstep, but with the guiding hands of Ryan Coogler, it was a huge success and breathed new life into the nearly 40-year-old franchise. Coogler’s Creed put a spin on the story that allowed for new characters to enter the frame while letting the established lead – Rocky Balboa – to take on the mantle of trainer. It all worked exceptionally well. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Rocky series with Coogler’s 2015 film Creed.

We talk about why the film works so well for us and why the fresh spin on the story helps. We look at Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson and Sylvester Stallone and what they bring to the table. We chat about DP Maryse Alberti and some of the incredible long shots scattered throughout the film and why they help lend to the authenticity of this world. We look at Ludwig Göransson’s music and how well it fits in this world, as well as the song “The Fire” by the Roots. And we debate the strength of the big moment finale in Creed’s training montage when Creed is circled by motocross bikes.

It’s a solid film and one we love, and it’s well worth checking out. So do so, then tune in to this week’s show! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!

Film Sundries

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"What we’ll be calling on is good, old fashioned, blunt force trauma."

Sixteen years after Rocky V opened, the final final installment of the story of Rocky Balboa hit screens. Sylvester Stallone admitted to making the fifth for the money and wanted to really come back strong to finish it right this time. And he certainly does, giving his final entry as the franchise’s lead a great wrap-up. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our exploration of the Rocky films with Stallone’s 2006 film Rocky Balboa.

We talk about the issues we have with the film, but why this film largely still works and is a strong finish. We look at what happens with Adrian and why it may be frustrating but makes for a better film. We chat about the antagonist and why we struggle with him in this one. We look at what works in the cinematography, particularly during the final fight, and what we struggle with in the editing and sound mix. And we discuss the new relationship that Rocky forms with Little Marie.

All in all, it’s got its problems but it’s also got a ton of heart and that goes a long way in this franchise. 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.

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!

Film Sundries

Thank you for supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast on Patreon!

Learn how to support our show and The Next Reel’s family of film podcasts by becoming a member. It's just $5 monthly or $55 annually. Learn more here.

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What are some other ways you can support us and show your love? Glad you asked!

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