November 2019 - Reel Film Nerds

Episode #147: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

By Matt on Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving Eve everyone! Are you ready to get your grub on? Some families have a tradition of seeing movies on Thanksgiving. Mike and Matt are here to help you decide if you should see the new Tom Hanks film inspired by one of the most loved Americans to walk the face of the earth, Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Additional topics today include Apple products, The Mandalorian (yes again), and Tom Hanks’ comedic roles.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a great film it was just not the film we were promised in the trailers. The story is really good but it is not a story about Fred Rogers. It involves Mr. Rogers in a big way but he is not the focus of the film. It is loosely based on Esquire magazine journalist Tom Junod’s article and friendship with Fred. The film is very emotional especially if you grew up watching Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. It pulls all the right strings especially the main character Lloyd Vodel’s relationship with his family or lack thereof. Mike and Matt both agree this is a great film but it is not worth going to the theaters to watch. Wait until it comes out to rent or to stream. Mike gives A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood an average rating of 3 out of 5 Reels, Matt is just a smidge higher with 3.5 out of 5 Reels.

The theaters are pretty dry for new releases over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend which is very strange. So for next week your hosts will be doing a Tributary review on Martin Scorsese’s straight to Netflix film The Irishman starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci. Have a great holiday weekend and don’t trample anyone trying to score killer Black Friday deals on your favorite films, electronics, or other goodies. Thanks for hanging out with us and we will chat at you next week.

If you want to listen to way better podcast’s don’t forget to check out our sister podcasts The Bluemilk Podcast, The Mile High Show, and Rogues Radio Podcast also based in beautiful Prescott, Arizona.

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike Talent to review you can email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com, listeners we are talking to you too.

Lastly we are on all things social such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Please join our Facebook Fan Group so you can have a safe space to yell at Mike and Matt from the comfort of your keyboard while talking about films too. Now go out and catch a movie!

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Director: Marielle Heller

Writers: Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster

Stars: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper, and Susan Kelechi Watson

Release Date: November 22, 2019

Storyline from IMDB

Two-time Oscar®-winner Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about empathy, kindness, and decency from America’s most beloved neighbor.

Watch the A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood trailer below.

Episodes

Episode #146: Ford v Ferrari

By Matt on Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Welcome to Wednesday everyone! The week is halfway over and your host’s Mike and Matt are here to help by chatting about an incredible film! Today the guys review James Mangold’s Ford v Ferrari starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon. Bonus topics today include Gallup New Mexico, The Mandalorian, and Adam Carolla’s The 24 Hour War.

Ford V Ferrari is truly an amazing film. This true story is exciting and intricate, the acting is incredible especially Bale and Damon’s chemistry, and the cinematography is down right gorgeous. This film is not only for car lovers it is for everyone. Yes cars are the focus of the film but honestly it’s about relationships, working hard, and family. Matt and Mike both agree this is a must see in the theater. The visuals paired with the incredible sound mixing really deserves to be experienced in the best way possible. Matt really liked Ford v Ferrari, he gives it 4 out of 5 Reels. Mike also really enjoyed the movie but as expected he is a bit harsher than Matt awarding the film 3.5 out of 5 Reels.

Next week Tom Hanks returns to the big screen to portray one of the most loved and respected men in America Fred Rogers in the film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. If you have not checked it out yet make sure you watch 2018’s documentary on Mr. Rogers titled Won’t You Be My Neighbor? I am sure Matt and Mike will be talking about it a lot in next week’s pod. If you want their hear their review of the documentary check out RFN Episode #29 here. Thanks for hanging out with us and we will chat at you next week, toodles!

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike Talent to review you can email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com, listeners we are talking to you too.

Ford v Ferrari

Director: James Mangold

Writers: Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, and Jason Keller

Stars: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Tracy Letts, and Ray McKinnon

Release Date: November 15, 2019

Storyline from IMDB

American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford and challenge Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.

Watch the Ford v Ferrari trailer below.

Episodes

Episode #145: Doctor Sleep

By Matt on Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Congratulations you made it to a new Reel Film Nerds podcast! Today your host’s Mike and Matt discuss the sequel to a film that is almost 40 years old Doctor Sleep. Bonus topics include The Shining mini review, Talented IPA, and RFN Podcast #144 audience reactions.

Doctor Sleep is a great film. It is not a horror film, it is a thriller with many horror elements. The story is fantastic and unexpected. A grown Danny Torrance has been tortured throughout his life dealing with the trauma that happened at the Overlook Hotel in The Shining. We are introduced to Dan after living in a bottle for a long time, following in the footsteps of his father Jack. Ewan McGregor is incredible as Dan Torrance. Rebecca Ferguson finally gets to spread her wings from the Mission Impossible franchise as Rose The Hat, our villain, but the real shocker was Kyliegh Curran as Abra Stone. This young actress did an incredible job and we cannot wait to see what she brings to the silver screen in the future. Matt and Mike both agree Doctor Sleep is a must watch in the theaters, especially if you are a fan of Stephen King or The Shining. Mike and Matt have returned to form with their ratings, the earth is now back in balance! Mike Talent awards Doctor Sleep 3.5 out of 5 Reels. Matt really enjoyed this film even more so than Mike giving it 4 out of 5 Reels.

Next week the guys will talk racing! Ok probably not racing but definitely about a racing movie starring two Hollywood heavyweights Christian Bale and Matt Damon, Ford V Ferrari. If you want a teaser for the film check out Adam Carolla’s great documentary based on the same story titled The 24 Hour War. Thanks for hanging out with us and we will chat at you next week!

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike Talent to review you can email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com, listeners we are talking to you too.

Doctor Sleep

Director: Mike Flanagan

Writers: Stephen King and Mike Flanagan

Stars: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran, and Cliff Curtis

Release Date: November 8, 2019

Storyline from IMDB

Years following the events of “The Shining,” a now-adult Dan Torrance must protect a young girl with similar powers from a cult known as The True Knot, who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.

Watch the Doctor Sleep trailer below.

Episodes

Episode #144: Terminator: Dark Fate

By Matt on Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Wednesday is here again and we are back to our one pod a week schedule. Mike and Matt hope you enjoyed our Second Annual Harvest Horror Fest and look forward to next year’s. Today your hosts jump head first into a robot Sci-Fi sequel Terminator: Dark Fate. Not robots from the future topics include McDonald’s fries, what is woke, and CGI.

This is probably the most divided Matt and Mike have been on a film in a very long time. Mike loved the latest installment of the Terminator franchise and well Matt did not to put it mildly. They both agree the action was great, the acting was fantastic, and most of the CGI was very good. The film flowed well but the issue at least for Matt was the plot. He claims it is the exact same plot as The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day smashed together and updated for today’s generation. Sound familiar Star Wars fans? Mike Talent enjoyed this film and did not disparage Matt for having a different opinion than him. Matt did the exact opposite but Mike kept to his guns giving the film 4 out of 5 Reels. Matt just can’t get over the reuse of the classic Terminator story yet again. He gives Terminator: Dark Fate 2.5 out of 5 Reels.

Next week we will review another Stephen King novel based horror thriller. How many are we up to now in 2019, four? Seriously? Let’s see there was Pet Sematary, It: Chapter Two, In the Tall Grass (streaming on Netflix but it counts!) and lastly the movie we will be reviewing Doctor Sleep. Man King must be just rolling around on a pile of money like Huell and Kuby! Don’t forget to listen to Matt and Leza on Magic 99.1 between 8:45 AM and 9:00 AM every Monday morning. If you are not in Prescott you can still listen online at this link. Thanks for hanging out with us and we will chat at you next week.