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Reel Fanatics
169 Episodes
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The guys dissect Guillermo del Toro's passion project, Frankenstein. Michael recommends two under-the-radar 2025 films, Joe explores Finnish action cinema, and Jared returns to a maligned flop from last year.
Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone collaborate again on Bugonia, and Michael, Jared, and Joe go down the rabbit hole with them. The guys also respond to questions from a listener email.
Kathryn Bigelow returns with a political thriller, and the guys discuss it in depth. Also, Jared recommends two new indie films, Michael enjoys his recent Criterion purchases, and Joe watches chainsaw-themed entertainment.
Jared discusses the dozen films he watched at this year's Mill Valley Film Festival. Joe recommends a recent Japanese film and revisits some horror classics from John Carpenter. Michael catches up with a horror sequel and a comedy franchise reboot.
Paul Thomas Anderson fans rejoice! The new film has arrived! The guys are joined by returning guest Colin Takasawa to discuss One Battle After Another and how it slides into PTA's oeuvre. But first, Colin and Joe champion a scuzzy NYC thriller, while Michael and Jared reflect on the life and cinema of Robert Redford.
A Spike Lee joint starring Denzel Washington is must-see cinema, so the guys discuss this reimagining of an Akira Kurosawa classic. Michael recommends a baseball documentary, Joe champions a new Stephen King adaptation, and Jared offers a Sidney Lumet drama for people who are excited about One Battle After Another.
As summer comes to a close, Jared and Joe review three final films from the season: Superman, The Naked Gun, and Weapons. Also, Jared reports on a few Peter Greenaway films, while Joe deep-dives into John Woo's oeuvre.
Joe concludes a round of retro reviews with John Frankenheimer's 1966 cult classic, Seconds. Michael finally watches an old animated series, Jared recommends two recent Radiance releases, and Joe presents a Bob Hoskins crime drama double feature.
Ari Aster returns viewers to the pandemic days of summer 2020 with his latest film, Eddington. Michael, Jared, and Joe reflect on that miserable time while they debate this powder keg of a thriller.
Michael continues the current round of retro reviews with Otto Preminger's 1959 courtroom drama, Anatomy of a Murder. Joe revisits a signature Claire Denis picture, while Michael recommends the second season of a Netflix docuseries.
Director Joseph Kosinski and star Brad Pitt team up with Formula One for the summer's big sports movie, so the Reel Fanatics gather to review the tape. Michael, Jared, and Joe also discuss the recent 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century list published by The New York Times.
Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland return to the 28 Days Later franchise, so the Reel Fanatics do, too, for a review of 28 Years Later and reflections on the earlier films. Also, Michael and Jared recommend streaming comedy series, while Joe defends a maligned romantic dramedy.
To celebrate the summer movie season, the Reel Fanatics conduct a fantasy draft of film franchises!
Jared kicks off another round of retro reviews with Peter Bogdanovich's Paper Moon. Michael champions a new Netflix sketch series, Joe catches up with Andor, and Jared presents a Criterion Channel double feature.
Tom Cruise takes his signature action franchise on one last mission, and the Reel Fanatics are along for the ride! Before the guys discuss the Mission: Impossible closer, Michael and Joe recommend two other films currently in theaters, and Jared endorses three recent TV series.
For his retro review, Jared selects Jacques Becker's 1960 prison break thriller, Le Trou. Joe champions the new Cronenberg film, Jared recommends a Netflix series, and Michael revisits a 30 for 30 doc.
The guys sink their fangs into Ryan Coogler's vampire horror-thriller, Sinners, in this episode. Jared recommends a new physical media release of a Reel Fanatics favorite, Joe revisits Val Kilmer's work in Tombstone, and Michael updates his 2023 top ten with a provocative French film.
For a new retro review, Michael selects one of his favorite docs, Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. by Errol Morris. Joe recommends a recent Criterion Collection release, Michael revisits a Tom Cruise hit, and Jared explores the oeuvre of an overlooked Italian documentarian.
Another round of retro reviews begins with Joe's pick, Truck Turner: a 1974 Blaxploitation crime film starring Isaac Hayes as a badass bounty hunter. Jared recommends a new baseball indie, Joe champions a Netflix miniseries, and Michael finds a Malick movie he loves.
We're only three months into the year, and director Steven Soderbergh already has two theatrical releases. His new spy thriller, Black Bag, is the subject of this episode. Jared, Michael, and Joe also highlight some of their most anticipated movies for the rest of 2025.



