Reading Between the Reels: Film analysis with snark and heart

Bryan Young (@swankmotron) joins the guys for the Season 2 finale of Coruscant Community College to discuss topics ranging from what we can learn from “Star Wars” to philosophies on teaching during a pandemic. In a fun and wide-ranging conversation, Bryan also shares how he became a professional writer and teacher. Finally, Bryan reveals the film that made him want to be a filmmaker--and it’s not “Star Wars.” It’s an episode you won’t want to miss. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   Connect with Bryan and join the mailing list on his website www.swankmotron.com or find him on Twitter: twitter.com/swankmotron   You can also hear him weekly on the “Full of Sith” podcast:  Twitter: twitter.com/FullofSith Website – fullofsith.com And available wherever you listen to podcasts.   If you would like to connect with us, you can find us on:  Twitter: twitter.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com   And if you haven’t yet, please join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels

In this episode of Coruscant Community College, the guys continue their series on deconstructing the “Star Wars” films with an analysis of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” Matt and Craig discuss their favorite things about the film and how it demonstrates the cinematic aspects presented in Season One. Finally, the hosts debate the effectiveness of fan service and its place in “Rogue One.” ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you would like to connect with us, you can find us on:  Twitter: twitter.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com   And if you haven’t yet, please join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels

In this episode of Coruscant Community College, the guys break down “Solo: A Star Wars Story” into its various cinematic aspects and discuss its place in the larger canon. As they continue their series on deconstructing the “Star Wars” films in chronological order, Matt and Craig try to put the legacy of “Solo” in context as they discuss their favorite things about the film. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you would like to connect with us, you can find us on:  Twitter: twitter.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com   And if you haven’t yet, please join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels

In this special #StarWarsPodcastDay episode of Coruscant Community College, the guys continue their series on deconstructing the “Star Wars” films in chronological order. This time, they break down “Revenge of the Sith” using the format they shared in Season One. Matt and Craig discuss their favorite examples from the film and debate its merits and place in the larger “Star Wars” canon. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you would like to connect with us, you can find us on:  Twitter: twitter.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com   And if you haven’t yet, please join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels

In this episode of Coruscant Community College, the guys break down “Attack of the Clones” using the format from Season One and share their favorite examples from the film. They talk about what they like, what they don’t, and might have been. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you would like to connect with us, you can find us on:  Twitter: twitter.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com   And if you haven’t yet, please join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels  

In this episode of Coruscant Community College, Matt and Craig return to break down “The Phantom Menace” and to discuss how the film demonstrates the aspects introduced in Season One. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you would like to connect with us, you can find us on:  Twitter: twitter.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com   And if you haven’t yet, please join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels

In this episode of Coruscant Community College, Matt and Craig discuss how Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey” inspired their use of Star Wars in the classroom and also reveal their student-friendly version of the monomyth. Finally, the hosts reveal what listeners can expect from Season Two. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you would like to connect with us, you can find us on:  Twitter: twitter.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com   And if you haven’t yet, please join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels

In this episode of Coruscant Community College, Matt and Craig discuss how to critically view a film’s set design by focusing on location, set decoration and props. They also finish off their overview of film aspects by sharing the strategies they've developed for helping students analyze characterization and the Star Wars galaxy as a whole. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you would like to connect with us, you can find us on:  Twitter: twitter.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com   And if you haven’t yet, please join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels

In this episode of Coruscant Community College, Matt and Craig discuss how to critically assess an actor’s performance by using a sliding scale that ranges from static to melodramatic. They also share the strategies they've developed for helping students evaluate performance by focusing on dialogue, body language, facial expressions, costumes, hair, and makeup. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you would like to connect with us, you can find us on:  Twitter: twitter.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com   And if you haven’t yet, please join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels

In this episode of Coruscant Community College, Matt and Craig discuss how to listen critically to a film's soundtrack. They also share the strategies they've developed for helping students turn a discerning ear toward a film’s sound effects, music, and various vocal sounds. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you would like to connect with us, you can find us on:  Twitter: twitter.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com   And if you haven’t yet, please join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels

In this episode of Coruscant Community College, Matt and Craig discuss how to look critically at cinematography. They also share the strategies they've developed for helping students discover and interpret meaning in composition, color, and camera work. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you would like to connect with us, you can find us on:  Twitter: twitter.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com   And if you haven’t yet, please join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels

In the first full-length episode of Coruscant Community College, Matt and Craig introduce themselves to the greater Star Wars community and discuss the purpose and origins of the podcast. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you would like to connect with us, you can find us on:  Twitter: twitter.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com   And if you haven’t yet, please join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels

If you could snap your fingers and assemble the ultimate movie dream team, who’s on your list? The director who actually gets it, the writer who really writes, the composer who makes you feel things, and the actors who could carry it all. In this episode, your three regular podcast hosts—joined by guests Dan Zehr and Jeff McGee—draft their own fantasy crews to build the “perfect” movie. Along the way, they debate directors, champion favorite collaborators, and make the case for the artists they think would bring a film together. Expect near-misses, snarky commentary, and a tour through our fantasy film factory—where actors get drafted (and occasionally reconsidered), creative teams take shape, and everyone tries to build the movie they’d most want to see. Because even with the best of the best, perfection in filmmaking is still a pretty elusive target. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a 5-star review!    Hosts: Craig Dickinson: x.com/CraigMDickinson Corey Heitschmidt: x.com/HeitSolo Justin Eldon: x.com/justineldon7   Connect with us:  Website: readingbetweenthereels.podbean.com X: x.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com SpeakPipe: speakpipe.com/ReadingBetweentheReels   You can also join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels   Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, and more!   Connect with Dan on X: x.com/MrZehr You can also hear him on the “Coffee With Kenobi” podcast --Available wherever you listen to podcasts --Website: coffeewithkenobi.com --X: x.com/CoffeeWthKenobi   Check out “Build Your Own Darth Vader” here: fanhome.com/us/star-wars/darth-vader   Connect with Jeff on X: x.com/TheJeffMcGee Check out all of Jeff’s other shows at marvindogmedia.com and anywhere you listen to podcasts!   If you are interesting in advertising on this podcast, please go to: podbean.com/advertiseonRBR   The following music was used for this media project: Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer isn’t just about explosions—it’s a visual and emotional symphony. In “Oppenheimer - Part Two: Faces, Places, and Consequences,” the final episode in our series on Nolan’s films, we unpack the costumes, makeup, set design, and how every character choice builds tension and guilt. All served up with the surgical snark you’ve come to expect. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a 5-star review!    Hosts: Craig Dickinson: x.com/CraigMDickinson Corey Heitschmidt: x.com/HeitSolo Justin Eldon: x.com/justineldon7   Connect with us:  Website: readingbetweenthereels.podbean.com X: x.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com SpeakPipe: speakpipe.com/ReadingBetweentheReels   You can also join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels   Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you are interesting in advertising on this podcast, please go to: podbean.com/advertiseonRBR   The following music was used for this media project: Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, hits like a ticking bomb. In “Oppenheimer - Part One: Light, Sound, and Panic,” the penultimate entry in our series on Nolan’s films, we break down why. From cinematography that could start wars to sound design that rattles your soul and dialogue sharper than a physicist’s temper, this episode dives deep into the film’s craft. Snark, insight, and existential dread included. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a 5-star review!    Hosts: Craig Dickinson: x.com/CraigMDickinson Corey Heitschmidt: x.com/HeitSolo Justin Eldon: x.com/justineldon7   Connect with us:  Website: readingbetweenthereels.podbean.com X: x.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com SpeakPipe: speakpipe.com/ReadingBetweentheReels   You can also join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels   Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you are interesting in advertising on this podcast, please go to: podbean.com/advertiseonRBR   The following music was used for this media project: Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

For this year’s “Star Wars Podcast Day," we go back into the archives for one of our first deconstructions and revisit an early episode of “Coruscant Community College” in which we break down Solo: A Star Wars Story. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a 5-star review!    Hosts: Craig Dickinson: x.com/CraigMDickinson Corey Heitschmidt: x.com/HeitSolo Justin Eldon: x.com/justineldon7   Connect with us:  Website: readingbetweenthereels.podbean.com X: x.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com SpeakPipe: speakpipe.com/ReadingBetweentheReels   You can also join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels   Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you are interesting in advertising on this podcast, please go to: podbean.com/advertiseonRBR   The following music was used for this media project: Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In the conclusion of our two-part Tenet breakdown, we examine the film’s performances, set design, and characters—all in hopes of unpacking one of the movie’s most brain-melting ideas: when cause becomes effect and effect becomes… something else entirely. We dig into the film’s warped logic, inverted motivations, and why the time rules in Tenet feel like they were written on a whiteboard during a caffeine-induced panic attack. Whether you love the puzzle or just pretend to understand it, this episode is your gateway into the film’s backwards-forwards reasoning and why the narrative somehow works even when the reasoning doesn’t. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a 5-star review!    Hosts: Craig Dickinson: x.com/CraigMDickinson Corey Heitschmidt: x.com/HeitSolo Justin Eldon: x.com/justineldon7   Connect with us:  Website: readingbetweenthereels.podbean.com X: x.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com SpeakPipe: speakpipe.com/ReadingBetweentheReels   You can also join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels   Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you are interesting in advertising on this podcast, please go to: podbean.com/advertiseonRBR   The following music was used for this media project: Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Strap in, reverse your entropy, and whisper “pincer movement” like you actually know what it means. In this episode, we launch Part I of our two-episode deep dive into Christopher Nolan’s mind-melting blockbuster Tenet. We’ll unravel (or re-ravel?) the film’s bold structure, its signature Nolan time shenanigans, and why every character sounds like they’re delivering plot exposition into a blender set to “Maximum Confusion Mode.” We’ll begin breaking down the filmmaking choices, the visual puzzles, the sound mix controversies (hello, muffled masks!), and that moment when Pattinson flexes his “I read the script twice” energy at the audience. If you’ve ever wanted to understand Tenet… or at least pretend convincingly at parties… this is your moment. Part 2 is already waiting for you. Or maybe you’ve heard it already. Time is weird. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a 5-star review!    Hosts: Craig Dickinson: x.com/CraigMDickinson Corey Heitschmidt: x.com/HeitSolo Justin Eldon: x.com/justineldon7   Connect with us:  Website: readingbetweenthereels.podbean.com X: x.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com SpeakPipe: speakpipe.com/ReadingBetweentheReels   You can also join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels   Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you are interesting in advertising on this podcast, please go to: podbean.com/advertiseonRBR   The following music was used for this media project: Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

A quick end-of-year episode to settle the debate one last time. Die Hard is a Christmas movie. So are Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. If it’s set at Christmas and ends with emotional closure and gunfire, it counts. Happy New Year! ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a 5-star review!    Hosts: Craig Dickinson: x.com/CraigMDickinson Corey Heitschmidt: x.com/HeitSolo Justin Eldon: x.com/justineldon7   Connect with us:  Website: readingbetweenthereels.podbean.com X: x.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com SpeakPipe: speakpipe.com/ReadingBetweentheReels   You can also join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels   Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you are interesting in advertising on this podcast, please go to: podbean.com/advertiseonRBR   The following music was used for this media project: Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Brace yourself for a holly-jolly hostage situation! This special Christmas bonus re-release of Reading Between the Reels is decking the halls… and the villains. From John McClane’s barefoot antics to explosive corporate holiday parties, we reveal why Die Hard is the ultimate Christmas movie you secretly love (or pretend to hate).   Originally released in 1988, Die Hard defied low expectations to become a critical and financial hit, introduced Alan Rickman to the world, solidified Bruce Willis as a movie star, and inspired an entire sub-genre of action films. On this episode, guest co-host Jeff McGee returns to help deconstruct the film, share his insights, and explain why Santa might be coming to town… but he’s definitely taking notes from Hans Gruber. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a 5-star review!    Hosts: Craig Dickinson: x.com/CraigMDickinson Corey Heitschmidt: x.com/HeitSolo Justin Eldon: x.com/justineldon7   Connect with us:  Website: readingbetweenthereels.podbean.com X x.com/ReadBtweenReels Facebook: facebook.com/ReadBtweenReels Email: ReadingBetweenReels@gmail.com SpeakPipe: speakpipe.com/ReadingBetweentheReels   You can also join our Facebook group. It’s a safe place to share your thoughts and discuss all things related to movies. You can find us at facebook.com/groups/readbtweenreels   Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, and more!   Connect with Jeff on X: x.com/TheJeffMcGee Check out the “Audio Advent Calendar” and all of Jeff’s other shows at marvindogmedia.com and anywhere you listen to podcasts!   If you are interesting in advertising on this podcast, please go to: podbean.com/advertiseonRBR   The following music was used for this media project: Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license