Reel Fanatics

The 96th Academy Awards are approaching, so Michael, Jared, and Joe analyze the nominees and offer their predictions for the winners.

All is revealed in the shocking conclusion to Michael, Jared, and Joe's reflections on 2023 cinema! The guys divulge films #5-1 from their individual top ten lists, as well as some honorable mentions. Three more guests share their favorites of the year.

That's a wrap on 2023! Michael, Jared, and Joe reflect on the year in cinema and share their #10-6 films from their individual top ten lists. Several guests call in to champion their favorites.

Is she guilty? The guys examine Justine Triet's Palme d'Or-winning Anatomy of a Fall. Jared recommends the new Wim Wenders film. Joe analyzes The Equalizer franchise. Michael discovers two new dark Christmas classics.

On this episode, the guys discuss Cord Jefferson's directorial debut, American Fiction. Michael acknowledges the impressive year of Kristoffer Borgli, Jared recommends an idiosyncratic TV miniseries, and Joe crafts some unusual sports metaphors.

Bradley Cooper's Maestro is the focus of this episode. Also, Jared and Joe recommend two December releases, Michael eliminates some older blind spots, and together they discuss the demise of the cool movie star.

The guys discuss what might be Hayao Miyazaki's final film, The Boy and the Heron. Michael reports on several resolved blind spots, including classic Miyazaki works. Jared recommends two recent theatrical releases. Joe revisits a great Ridley Scott picture.

The buzzy Netflix film May December from indie auteur Todd Haynes is the subject of this episode. Joe revisits some classics while Michael fills in some blind spots. Jared is surprised by one of Joe's comfort movies.

The guys discuss Alexander Payne's The Holdovers. Joe revisits the James Bond franchise. Jared recommends a Norwegian satire. Michael weighs in on a recent release that divided Joe and Jared.

Two masters return with films that seem ideally suited to their styles. How do they fare? Jared and Joe discuss Sofia Coppola's Priscilla, then Michael joins in to analyze David Fincher's The Killer.

Martin Scorsese's long-awaited epic crime drama, Killers of the Flower Moon, has finally arrived! The guys discuss the film in depth. Michael revisits some older Scorsese pictures, while Joe and Jared recommend new movies on VOD.

Michael and Joe share their reactions to the new concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, and Jared reports on the 2023 Mill Valley Film Festival. Joe and Jared discuss Wes Anderson's Roald Dahl Netflix shorts.

In anticipation of David Fincher's The Killer, the guys list their ten favorite films about professional killers. Joe and Jared also recommend some recent releases, while Michael eliminates some 1970s blind spots.

Jared is joined by guest Colin Takasawa to identify the ten best foreign, indie, or avant-garde movies of the year and discuss a handful of other notable titles. 2023 has a lot to offer: confident directorial debuts, gems from young masters, and two films that evoke the work of Stan Brakhage!

It's the time of year for fantasy football drafts, and with that in mind, the guys undertake a sports movie draft! For the most part, Michael, Jared, and Joe all get the films they want. But who ends up with the best roster? Listeners decide! Vote for the draft winner through our Twitter post!

A giant episode to cover the moviegoing event of the summer: Barbenheimer! The guys debate the structure of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and praise the humor of Greta Gerwig's Barbie. Joe recommends a classic sci-fi novel. Jared champions two French language films released earlier this year. Michael addresses the death of William Friedkin.

Michael and Jared discuss the new Indiana Jones film, and Joe calls in to share his thoughts. The guys open the episode by discussing the ongoing WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes, the state of the industry, and where it's headed. Michael finishes watching Succession. Jared celebrates the Criterion release of a 1980s cult classic.

Once again, the guys do not see eye to eye on a Wes Anderson picture, and Michael articulates his resistance to the auteur's new movie, Asteroid City. Jared reviews a video game. Joe reads a Pulitzer-winning novel. Michael names his favorite film of the year so far.

The eagerly anticipated Spider-Verse sequel is the topic of this episode, but there isn't unanimous praise for the film among the hosts. Michael explores the work of S. Craig Zahler. Jared champions a Sundance hit. Joe goes literary.

Daniel Goldhaber's eco-terrorism thriller, How to Blow Up a Pipeline, is the topic of the day. Before digging into that film, Jared and Joe disagree on and debate two more recent releases, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.