Month: January 2023

Episode #307: A Man Called Otto

Guess what it’s podcast time with Matt and Mike AKA the Reel Film Nerds. For episode 307 the guys chat about Tom Hanks’ latest film A Man Called Otto. Not grumpy old man topics include dry January, another awesome giveaway, and homeowners associations.

This is not intentional but so far we are at 50% sad movie reviews for 2023. We swear we are not picking sad films on purpose, guess it’s just that time of year. A Man Called Otto is a really great film but gosh it’s really depressing for the bulk of the movie. It has a really nice thoughtful third act that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy but holy crap there is some darkness to work through first. This is a difficult film to discuss without spoiling major plot points so we won’t. The acting is very good as expected from Tom Hanks but Mariana Treviño the counterbalance to the grumpy old man, was equally amazing.

Should you rush out and watch A Man Called Otto, maybe. The movie theaters would love your business and it’s Tom Hanks dang it. Mike and Matt both really enjoyed the film but Matt liked it a little bit more, awarding it 4 out of 5 Reels. Mike gives A Man Called Otto a respectable 3.5 out of 5 Reels.     

Next week we stay home and sit on our couches catching Christian Bale’s latest Netflix Original The Pale Blue Eye. Thank you for listening and we will chat with you next week!

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike to review, email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com

You can find us on all things social such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Why not join our Facebook Fan Group so you can yell at Mike and Matt from the comfort of your keyboard while talking about films. Thank you for liking, subscribing, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends about our podcast. Stay home and stream as many movies as you can!

A Man Called Otto A Man Called Otto Movie Poster

Director:

Writer: , , and

Stars: , , , and Mack Bayda

Release Date: January 13, 2023

Storyline from IMDB

Otto is a grump who’s given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.

Watch the A Man Called Otto trailer below.

Episode #306: M3GAN

Happy hump day everyone! For Reel Film Nerds Episode 306 we chat about our first horror movie of 2023 M3GAN. Additional topics include the TV show Girls, donkeys, and what is elevated horror.

Does this film really qualify as a horror movie or is it a thriller? Matt and Mike think M3GAN leans more towards psychological thriller than a horror flick. The things you don’t see or experience are just as scary as the things the film does show you. M3GAN, the AI doll, is basically a mix of Terminator and Chucky with a sprinkle of everyone’s favorite Alexa device thrown in for good measure. This film is a story that has been done over and over again just not quite like this. One of the best questions M3GAN raises is a kid’s dependency on their guardian and should an AI be that guardian? There are some really interesting scenes that do make this film worth a watch. Just seeing the doll M3GAN do her thing and how well she does it is a feat in its own right. They really nailed it visually and audibly. Matt and Mike differ a bit on M3GAN. Mike, as expected, loved the movie, awarding it 4 out of 5 Reels. Matt thought the film was just average and had been done before. He awards it 3 out 5 Reels.      

Next week Mike and Matt head to the theaters this week to watch Tom Hanks try to play a grumpy man in A Man Called Otto. Come on Tom, we know you are a nice guy. We will try to believe you anyway. Thank you for listening and we will chat with you next week!

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike to review, email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com

You can find us on all things social such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Why not join our Facebook Fan Group so you can yell at Mike and Matt from the comfort of your keyboard while talking about films. Thank you for liking, subscribing, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends about our podcast. Stay home and stream as many movies as you can!

M3GAN M3GAN Movie Poster

Director:

Writer: and

Stars: , , , and Amie Donald

Release Date: January 6, 2023

Storyline from IMDB

A robotics engineer at a toy company builds a life-like doll that begins to take on a life of its own.

Watch the M3GAN trailer below.

Episode #305: The Banshees of Inisherin

Welcome everyone to Reel Film Nerds podcast 305.  Today Mike and Matt review a film that is lighting up the awards scene, The Banshees of Inisherin starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. Off topics include kayaking, Star Tours, and our first giveaway of 2023!

 For the second podcast of the year your hosts already don’t agree, that is a first! The Banshees of Inisherin is not a film for everyone. It is sad, dark, depressing, and humorous. It is your typical art house or independent type film. The acting is incredible, the sets are beautiful, and the story is very thought provoking, well to one of your hosts. There are ways you can read into the film, think about what it means, and how it pertains to your life or it might just come off really weird to you. Can you guess which host went what way? Our ratings will tell you. 

Mike Talent was not a fan of The Banshees of Inisherin. He thought it was just weird and boring, awarding it 2.5 out of 5 Reels. Matt really liked it and read into it quite a bit especially how it pertains to his own life. He awards the film 4 out of 5 Reels.   

Shocked? Yeah we are too. Mike is usually the hardcore film guy getting a ton out of smaller indie films. Not this time, I wonder if Matt is maturing? Nah there were a ton of f-bombs in this one. 

Next week Mike and Matt head to the theaters to catch their first horror film of the year, M3GAN (2023) starring Allison Williams and Violet McGraw. Thank you for listening and we will chat with you next week!

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike to review, email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com

You can find us on all things social such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Why not join our Facebook Fan Group so you can yell at Mike and Matt from the comfort of your keyboard while talking about films. Thank you for liking, subscribing, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends about our podcast. Stay home and stream as many movies as you can!

The Banshees of Inisherin The Banshees of Inisherin Movie Poster

Director:

Writer:

Stars: , , , and Barry Keoghan

Release Date: November 4, 2022

Storyline from IMDB

Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.

Watch The Banshees of Inisherin trailer below.

Episode #304: Babylon (2022)

Merry 2023 everyone! Matt and Mike hope you got everything you wanted for Christmas and are not still suffering from a New Year’s hangover. For the first pod of 2023 the guys chat about Babylon (2022) starring Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt. Extra special topics include Flea, our Best Movies of 2022, and gifts.

Babylon (2022) is a great movie for some people. It is very long but well acted, shot, with amazing sets and beautiful wardrobes. Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt do amazing jobs but relative newcomer Diego Calva steals the screen on many occasions. Babylon (2022) is a film for people who love movies and Hollywood. It tells multiple tales during the late 1920’s to 1930’s when Hollywood is transitioning into movies with sound. The biggest negative to Babylon (2022) is the length. It is over three hours long but luckily it doesn’t feel that long. Maybe skip the soda if you go watch this one in the theaters. Honestly it should be doing a hell of a lot better in the box office. Your hosts start the year off in agreement by awarding the film 4 out of 5 Reels.

Next week your hosts prepare for the upcoming awards season with a little film that dropped in November but is getting lots of Oscar buzz, The Banshees of Inisherin starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. Thanks for listening everyone and we will chat with you next week!

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike to review, email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com

You can find us on all things social such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Why not join our Facebook Fan Group so you can yell at Mike and Matt from the comfort of your keyboard while talking about films. Thank you for liking, subscribing, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends about our podcast. Stay home and stream as many movies as you can!

Babylon (2022) Babylon (2022) Movie Poster

Director:

Writer:

Stars: , , Diego Calva, and

Release Date: December 23, 2022

Storyline from IMDB

A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.

Watch the Babylon (2022) trailer below.