The Reel Big Show

Hello and welcome to another episode of Girls on Film. A podcast where ladies talk about movies. My name is Melissa Hanson and today we have an interview with Neal Huff, who has a pivotal role in the Oscar-Nominated and Independent Spirit Award-winning film, Spotlight. This is the true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core. You may be thinking the movie is a heavy drama, but writer/director Tom McCarthy and his co-writer, Josh Singer manage to balance the emotions so even though the subject is dark, you are left with hope. Neal and I talk about his role and the real person he portrays, Phil Saviano.

Hello and welcome to another episode of Girls on Film. A podcast where ladies talk about movies. My name is Melissa Hanson and today we have an interview with Lawrence Roeck, the writer and director of Diablo starring Scott Eastwood. The western slash psychological thriller is about a young civil war veteran who is forced on a desperate journey to save his kidnapped wife. Along the way he crosses paths with three important characters played by Walton Goggins, of recent Hateful Eight fame, Adam Beach, who you’ll recognize from war films like Flags of Our Fathers and Danny Glover who needs no introduction. There’s not much more I can reveal without spoiling the film. Not only does it hold your attention with the story, the cinematography is breathtaking.

This week's podcast is dedicated to Alex Gibney's documentary, Steve Jobs: The Man In the Machine. Liz and I attended a screening, Q&A and reception where Gibney spoke with the press audience. After, Liz and I realized that as a user and non-user of Apple products, we had a great opportunity to discuss the film from both perspectives.

Set Fire to the Stars

The-Reel-Big-Show Which actors & actresses would you draft for the perfect movie? In this special edition of The Reel Big Show, Michael had the idea for the gang to choose a movie concept and then they would cast it, ala snake draft! Here's a few teasers, but you'll have to listen to get the details! Movie A: The Dear Johns - Four guys get dumped by their wives on the same day Movie B: The Master Plan - Action/adventure/drama escape movie set during World War II Movie C: 1940s era big band club comedy with a crime element So which cast goes with which movie? Cast #1: William H. Macy, Paul Giamatti, John C. Reilly, Michael Pena, Judy Greer, Billy Murray Cast #2: Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgard, Adrien Brody, Jon Hamm, Patton Oswalt, Zoe Saldana Cast #3: Matthew McConaughey, Oscar Isaac, Dylan O'Brien, Idris Elba, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hiddleston

There's a huge following for the online game League of Legends, as over 67 million players MONTHLY play the game. Director Patrick Creadon focuses on both behind-the-scenes of setting up the tournaments and the some of the teams that are world champions in his new documentary, All Work All Play.

Patrick gives his thoughts on everything from how he learned about League of Legends to how documentary filmmaking has changed since his Sundance hit, Wordplay.

Whether you're a gamer or not, you can appreciate the time and talent it takes to become a world champion. In League of Legends, the free-to-play online game from Riot Games, two teams of five compete. One of the top North American teams, Cloud 9, is profiled in the new documentary All Work All Play, screened as a work-in-progress at this year's Tribeca Film Festival. I sat down with the team before any of us had seen the movie, and asked them about their lives, interests and what it means to be part of an emerging sport, well, e-sport, that is.

Music is part of our souls. It can heal, it can hurt, it's like a sense memory. We've lost great artists in their prime like, Leonard Cohen, Kurt Cobain, and Elliot Smith. The impact of their death is felt each time we hear one of their songs. Imagine, for a moment, that your very favorite artist suddenly dies. Now imagine you were married to them. This is the very premise of TUMBLEDOWN. Hannah is the widow of indie folk singer Hunter Miles. She is hounded by gossip seekers on a daily basis. When Hofstra professor and true fan Andrew tries to get in touch with her, she brushes him off... and brushes him off again... and again. Only until realizing that her dream of writing Hunter's story is one she cannot accomplish on her own, does she let her highly guarded heart open just a crack. Andrew and Hannah strike a deal; Andrew writes a biography on her terms for $50k. With the encouragement of his music industry girlfriend Finley, Andrew drives from NYC to Maine and moves into Hannah's guest bedroom. He is then exposed to a world a true fan can only dream of, with one massive catch. Hannah will not stop mourning her late husband. Can fan and family see eye to eye. Can trust break down the walls of Hannah's suffering? Will intellect stifle healing. In a film where it's head vs heart, who wins?

Once you find out that a film is based on true events, it tends to enter a different realm. What happens when the usual teenage fair in your new town is one of depression and morbidity? Bridgend captures the imagination and haunts the mind long after you leave the theater. It's a mysterious and ethereal film, from the locations, to the performances, until the very last scene. Hannah Murray talks about what is was like to be in an area where teens feel so hopeless and trapped that suicide is a logical solution. Passionate about a deadly pact, call it peer pressure or perhaps mob mentality, her character Sara is lured into this strange arena. Can she hold onto herself long enough? That's the ultimate question. Hannah gives us one of most intriguing performance so far. This is not easy material to tackle, but a real success by director Jeppe Rønde and the entire cast. Take a listen to her thoughts on this unusual phenomenon, what's it like to be part of one of the biggest shows on television, and what she's filming right now. For you listening pleasure, we give you a special edition of Girls On Film.

Whether they are funny, dramatic or full of action (or a combination of both), movies with prison are plenty. This week Michael leads the discussion with Liz and Melissa.