Reel Film Nerds Podcast

Episode #150: Jumanji: The Next Level

By Matt on Wednesday, December 18, 2019

We did it! The boys finally watched and reviewed a film in the theaters after a two week hiatus thanks to Matt not knowing how to read. This week Mike and Matt sit down with a supercalifragilistic guest and animal expert to finally review Jumanji: The Next Level. Off topic topics include harsh reality of social media, animals: fact versus fiction, and a bun in the oven, wait what?!?! Buckle up you are in for a fun double sized RFN pod!

Jumanji: The Next Level is a film most of us were expecting if you watched Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. It is just more of the same but bigger and badder like most sequels in the world. More characters, more action sequences, and bigger sets all help bolster the film. The story is nothing special even bad at times and the impressions could be improved well most of the impressions. It was great to see the return of all the characters and actors from the previous movie but this sequel in the end feels like a cash grab. Should you go out and watch Jumanji: The Next Level in theaters, according to Mike, Matt, and their guest nope. It is not worth it, just wait for a streaming or rental service to see it. Again it is not a bad movie it is just mediocre at best. If you can’t wait for Star Wars Episode IX then sure you won’t be disappointed but you won’t be impressed either. If you can believe it Matt and Mike both agree again! Jumanji: The Next Level earns a 2.5 out of 5 Reels. Our super special guest is a tiny bit more lenient awarding the film 3 out of 5 Reels.

Next week it’s the big one, the final one, Matt’s reason to live, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker review!! But wait there’s more, our next podcast before our big review of The Wars is a Rise of Skywalker predictions and guesses episode suggested by RFN superfan Steve Stockmar and implemented by Mysterious Mike. Thanks for tuning in we hope you enjoyed our guest and chat with you later this 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.

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!

Jumanji: The Next Level

Director: Jake Kasdan

Writers: Jake Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Awkwafina, Danny DeVito and Danny Glover

Release Date: June 7, 2019

Storyline from IMDB

The gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own, they discover that nothing is as they expect. The players will have to brave parts unknown and unexplored, from the arid deserts to the snowy mountains, in order to escape the world’s most dangerous game.

Watch the Jumanji: The Next Level trailer below.

Episodes Legacy

Episode #149: Legacy – Wish Man

By Matt on Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Sorry everyone but Matt messed up bad last week. He claimed we were reviewing Jumanji: The Next Level but regretfully it’s not out yet. He was honestly looking at the wrong week on the release calendar. Don’t hate him more than usual. Instead there was an exciting new Netflix release last week of a film made in Prescott, Wish Man. Not Wish Man related topics today include Die Hard, Blanton’s Bourbon, and the incredible beauty of northern Arizona.

Wish Man is an extremely well acted and written film based on the life of Prescott hero Frank Shankwitz founder of Make a Wish. Frank’s story is very emotional on many levels both good and bad. The sets are beautiful and perfect for the time period. If you live or have experienced much of Prescott, Ariz. you will recognize most if not all of the locations they used. There are a handful of minor missteps in the film. A couple of the flashbacks were not presented well and came off confusing. The child actors did well but could have been better. They are kids and we are sure they did their best so you can’t hold it against them. In the end Mike and Matt both agree Wish Man is a must see film. Go watch it now and tell everyone you know to watch it too. Hopefully this is not becoming a trend for the guys but they agree on a rating for the second week in a row! Matt and Mike both give Wish Man 4.5 out of 5 Reels.

Next week the guys will finally return to the theaters to watch the sequel to the 2017 surprise hit Jumanji: The Next Level, honest that is what we will be reviewing and hopefully with a special guest, Mrs. Talent!! 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.

Wish Man

Director: Theo Davies

Writer: Theo Davies

Stars: Andrew Steel, Kirby Bliss Blanton, Robert Pine, and Tom Sizemore

Release Date: June 7, 2019

Storyline from IMDB

Frank Shankwitz, an Arizona motorcycle cop with a troubled past, survives a near-fatal accident during a high-speed pursuit. As part of Frank’s rehabilitation, police chief Sgt. Eddie Newman asks him to spend time with a terminally ill little boy, Michael, whose dying wish is to be a Highway Patrol motorcycle officer. To Michael, Frank is his hero, and an unlikely friendship is born. The boy inspires Frank to follow a new path, which leads to the creation of the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Watch the Wish Man trailer below.

Episodes Tributary

Episode #148: Tributary – The Irishman

By Matt on Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Welcome to December everyone! You can now safely decorate for Christmas, thank you to everyone who waited. This week the guys stayed home and watched the biggest film release of the long holiday weekend Martin Scorsese’s latest gangster film The Irishman. Extra special topics today include de-aging, Mike and Matt throw shade at each other, and structure?

The Irishman is an incredible film with a great story saturated with history. It is classic Scorsese at his best! Yes it is a long film, very long but worth it. Do yourself a favor and try to watch it in one sitting. It will be difficult, especially with the ease of streaming shows and movies today but it is honestly the best way to watch The Irishman. Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci do we really need to say more? They were just incredible along with the excellent and vast supporting cast. The de-aging effects were well done for the most part. There are a few times when the effect doesn’t look quite right but overall it is remarkable what film makers can do today. The Irishman is a great film and well worth a watch. If you have it in a theater near you definitely see it there but it is in super limited release. This movie for sure will be making waves at the Academy Awards early next year. Matt and Mike in the extremely rare occasion agree on a rating giving Scorsese’s latest masterpiece 4 out of 5 Reels.

Next week the guys return to the theaters to watch the sequel to the 2017 surprise hit Jumanji: The Next Level. What did you think of our attempt at a structured podcast? Let us know in the emails, the social medias, or carrier pigeon. 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.

The Irishman

Director: Martin Scorsese

Writers: Charles Brandt (book), Steven Zaillian (screenplay)

Stars: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and Harvey Keitel

Release Date: November 27, 2019

Storyline from IMDB

Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran is a man with a lot on his mind. The former labor union high official and hitman, learned to kill serving in Italy during the Second World War. He now looks back on his life and the hits that defined his mob career, maintaining connections with the Bufalino crime family. In particular, the part he claims to have played in the disappearance of his life-long friend, Jimmy Hoffa, the former president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who mysteriously vanished in late July 1975 at the age of 62.

Watch The Irishman trailer below.

Episodes

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 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.

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.

Episode #150: Jumanji: The Next Level

Jumanji: The Next Level

Storyline from IMDB

Watch the Jumanji: The Next Level trailer below.

Episode #149: Legacy – Wish Man

Wish Man

Storyline from IMDB

Watch the Wish Man trailer below.

Episode #148: Tributary – The Irishman

The Irishman

Storyline from IMDB

Watch The Irishman trailer below.

Episode #147: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Storyline from IMDB

Watch the A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood trailer below.

Episode #146: Ford v Ferrari

Ford v Ferrari

Storyline from IMDB

Watch the Ford v Ferrari trailer below.