Reel Film Nerds Podcast

Episode #200: Tributary – Scrooged

By Matt on Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Welcome everyone to Reel Film Nerds Podcast 200! Shocking that we made it all the way to 200 episodes. Today Mike and Matt continue their holiday movie reviews with 1980’s comedy gold Scrooged starring Bill Murray. A handful of our many off topics include a house fire, The Chive, TV’s, and LCD’s.

Scrooged is a must watch retelling of the classic Christmas story by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. Bill Murray plays one of his most iconic and dramatic roles, Frank Cross, a cynical TV executive wronging his employees and former girlfriend right before Christmas. The star studded cast includes Karen Allen, John Forsythe, and Carol Kane. This film is a comedy but a very dark comedy. The story is great, the special effects, mostly practical, still hold up well today, and the sets are perfect. The three ghosts of Christmas are memorable and unique compared to other tellings of this tale. Scrooged is a holiday classic Mike and Matt watch every year and you should too. Mike gives Scrooged 4 out of 5 Reels. Matt a tad lower awards the film 3.5 out of 5 Reels.

Next week the guys review a movie they have reviewed before. They promised it would make it’s return annually around Christmas, the skyscraper action spectacular Die Hard starring Bruce Willis and Reginald VelJohnson. Don’t forget to email us and enter our latest movie giveaway courtesy of Paramount Pictures, the brand new film The Stand In starring Drew Barrymore and Michael Zegen. Merry Christmas and thanks for your support of our podcast.

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.

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. Go watch as many movies as you can!

Scrooged

Director: Richard Donner

Writers: Mitch Glazer, Michael O’Donoghue, and Charles Dickens

Stars: Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe, and Bobcat Goldthwait

Release Date: November 23, 1988

Storyline from IMDB

A selfish, cynical television executive is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.

Watch the Scrooged trailer below.

Episodes

Episode #199: Fatman

By Matt on Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Let the holiday movie reviews continue! This week Matt and Mike chat about a new Christmas film Fatman starring Mel Gibson and Walton Goggins. Non holiday topics include Sons of Anarchy, shipping container homes, and the Paramount Network.

Have you heard about this epic tale featuring Santa Claus before today? New movies are rolling out on a weekly basis but since the pandemic you really don’t hear much about them. Matt and Mike sure do miss the movie theater especially all the trailers for the new films.

Back on topic Fatman is a very unique action and revenge story about one of the most beloved fictional icons in the world Santa Claus. Mel Gibson plays a not so fat Fatman trying to keep his struggling business going with a government contract. Walton Goggins, an assassin wronged by the man in red, is hired to take the Fatman out by a vengeful spoiled kid.

The acting was mostly great. Gibson and Goggins delivered and then some but the naughty kid played by Chance Hurstfield could use some work. The story is a very fun and comedic topic but there wasn’t a ton of comedy. It is an action movie but most of the action is crammed into the last thirty minutes. Mike and Matt both agree this is a great new holiday film that is worth a watch. Mike awards Fatman 3 out of 5 Reels. Matt almost always with the better rating gives the picture a 4 out of 5 Reels.

Next week for episode #200!!!! Matt and Mike review a holiday comedy classic starring Bill Murray, Scrooged. Don’t forget to email us and enter our latest movie giveaway courtesy of Paramount Pictures, the brand new film Wander starring Aaron Eckhart and Tommy Lee Jones. Merry Christmas and thanks for your support of our podcast.

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.

Fatman

Directors: Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms

Writers: Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms

Stars: Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Chance Hurstfield

Release Date: November 24, 2020

Storyline from IMDB

A rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus is fighting to save his declining business. Meanwhile, Billy, a neglected and precocious 12 year old, hires a hit man to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.

Watch the Fatman trailer below.

Episodes Legacy

Episode #198: Legacy – Gremlins (1984)

By Matt on Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Welcome back everyone, did you miss us? The boys are going to try something new for December. Much like our Harvest Horror Fest, for December we are going to chat about Christmas movies! They start off a possible tradition with a bang chatting about the Christmas classic Gremlins (1984). Off topics include limos, breeding, and stimulus TV’s?

Gremlins (1984) is an instant holiday classic where a son receives one of the worst Christmas presents imaginable. It requires not breaking three rules which we all know teenagers have a hard time not doing. What is Gremlins (1984), is it a comedy, a kids movie, a horror movie? Matt and Mike say yes, it’s a successful combination of all three. The acting can be rough at times and the film does come off as dated but it still is a ton of fun. The puppetry is excellent along with the voice acting and special effects. This is a classic monster film that is just plain good old comedy and fun.

Mike and Matt both agree this is a must watch movie especially for the holidays. Mike with the rare high rating gives Gremlins (1984) 4 out of 5 Reels. Matt also enjoyed the film but thinks it doesn’t hold up well awarding it 3.5 out of 5 Reels.

Next week we review a brand new Christmas movie starring Mel Gibson and Walton Goggins, Fatman currently available on digital download and movie theaters. Don’t forget to email us to enter our latest movie giveaway courtesy of Paramount Pictures, the brand new film Buddy Games written and directed by Josh Duhamel. Merry Christmas and thanks for your support of our podcast.

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.

Gremlins (1984)

Director: Joe Dante

Writer: Chris Columbus

Stars: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, and Corey Feldman

Release Date: June 8, 1994

Storyline from IMDB

A boy inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.

Watch the Gremlins (1984) trailer below.

Episodes Tributary

Episode #197: Tributary – The Vast of Night

By Matt on Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Welcome fellow movie buffs to another installment of the Reel Film Nerds podcast! Does anyone actually read this, I hope so. Today Mike and Matt chat about a very low budget but amazing Sci-Fi film The Vast of Night. Offbeat topics include rez ball, Roswell, and no MCU tie-in?

This is a prime example of being able to do a lot with very little. Is The Vast of Night a perfect film, nope but it is a very good film. The writing is superb, the acting is very well done, and the costumes and sets are incredibly accurate. If you love Sci-Fi especially The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, or The X-Files then you will really enjoy this one. It is a tribute to these shows in theme and scope. Mike with the rare high rating loved The Vast of Night giving it 4.5 out of 5 Reels. He wishes more people would embrace smaller independent films. Matt also really enjoyed this movie but not at Mike’s level. He gives it a good score with 3 out of 5 Reels.

We are taking next week off for Thanksgiving! It has been a very long time since the guys have had a break and they have earned one. We will return in December with another new review, maybe even a Christmas movie. Don’t forget to email us to enter our latest movie giveaway courtesy of Paramount Pictures, the brand new film Echo Boomers starring Michael Shannon and Patrick Schwarzenegger. Thanks for your support and we will chat at you in two weeks!

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.

The Vast of Night

Director: Andrew Patterson

Writers: Andrew Patterson and Craig W. Sanger

Stars: Sierra McCormick, Jake Horowitz, and Gail Cronauer

Release Date: May 29, 2020

Storyline from IMDB

One night in New Mexico, in the late 1950s, a switchboard operator and radio DJ discover a strange audio frequency which could change the future forever.

Watch The Vast of Night trailer below.

Episodes Tributary

Episode #196: Tributary – The Outpost

By Matt on Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Honoring all Veterans on Veterans Day. We don’t know them all but we owe them all. Thank you for your service and sacrifices. This week Mike and Matt sit down and chat about a modern war movie The Outpost starring Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, and Orlando Bloom. Topics include COVID haircuts, military spending, and Jungleland giveaway.

Just a warning for those of you who do not know, The Outpost is an incredible true story and it is a heartbreaking one told very respectfully. The first hour and a half definitely drags but the filmmakers are trying to set the scene and circumstances. This is an outpost that should have never existed in one of the worst locations possible and you really feel that. The acting was very good especially from Caleb Landy Jones. The sets, stunts, and special effects were incredible. They really set the scene and grandeur of the outpost’s location and dire circumstances. Mike and Matt, unlike last week’s review both enjoyed this film and award it 3.5 out of 5 Reels. If you have Netflix this is a must see movie.

Next week we change up our streaming service to review Mike’s pick, Vast of Night on Amazon Prime Video. This looks like a really well done Sci-Fi period film. Lastly email us to enter our latest movie giveaway courtesy of Paramount Pictures, the brand new Charlie Hunnam drama Jungleland. Thanks for your support 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.

The Outpost

Director: Rod Lurie

Writers: Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, and Jake Tapper

Stars: Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, and Orlando Bloom

Release Date: July 3, 2020

Storyline from IMDB

During the Afghanistan war, several outposts were placed to control the Taliban movement and their supply chain. Camp Keating, situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, was one them. While being shot at by the Talibans was business as usual, they tried to gain respect from local village elders and have them help stop these skirmishes. One day, when 400 Talibans rallied for a surprise attack, it was up to them to leverage the poor defenses and lack of ammo and manpower they had, to ultimately survive and go back to their loved ones.

Episode #200: Tributary – Scrooged

Scrooged

Storyline from IMDB

Watch the Scrooged trailer below.

Episode #199: Fatman

Fatman

Storyline from IMDB

Watch the Fatman trailer below.

Episode #198: Legacy – Gremlins (1984)

Gremlins (1984)

Storyline from IMDB

Watch the Gremlins (1984) trailer below.

Episode #197: Tributary – The Vast of Night

The Vast of Night

Storyline from IMDB

Watch The Vast of Night trailer below.

Episode #196: Tributary – The Outpost

The Outpost

Storyline from IMDB

Watch The Outpost trailer below.