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

In this episode, we dive into Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk—the movie that weaponizes sound design, disorientation, and narrative chaos to make you feel like you’re drowning in tension even when the characters aren’t in the water (yet). We break down the film’s infamous three timelines, why Nolan thinks clocks are a personality trait, and how the movie somehow maintains zero chill for 106 minutes straight. We also talk about Hans Zimmer’s “I hope you like panic attacks” score, Tom Hardy acting exclusively with his eyeballs, and Nolan’s ongoing war against traditional storytelling. If you’ve ever wondered why Dunkirk feels like a cinematic escape room run by a sadistic genius, this is your episode. ----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

We’re back on the other side of the black hole — emotionally and maybe spiritually. In Part Two of our deep dive into Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, we unpack Cooper’s bookshelf breakdown, the emotional math of Murph’s ghost, and whether “love” was actually the answer or just Nolan trolling us all. Expect equal parts awe, analysis, and exasperation. Bring tissues… and maybe a physics degree. And as a bonus, we are joined by Jeff McGee and Pam Johnston. They share their insights on Interstellar – as well as exciting news about their new podcast: “The Audio Advent Calendar.” ----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

Strap in and don’t forget your helmet — we’re launching into Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, where science meets sentimentality and somehow both cry. In this episode, we begin to tackle wormholes, relativity, and why Nolan seems to hate linear storytelling. Expect theories, sarcasm, and just enough pseudo-physics to make Neil deGrasse Tyson sigh audibly. ----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

Part 2 of our The Dark Knight Rises analysis dives into the details that make (or break) Nolan’s finale: body language, costuming, set design, and character arcs. Anne Hathaway slinks her way through as Catwoman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt maybe-becomes Batman, and Batman trades his cape for a cappuccino in Florence. We’ll pull apart the visual storytelling, the prison pit metaphors, and the way Gotham itself becomes a character. Finally, we’ll ask: does Nolan’s trilogy conclusion rise above the rubble—or just collapse under its own weight? ----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 Part 1 of our two-part The Dark Knight Rises breakdown, we dig into Christopher Nolan’s favorite toys: IMAX spectacle, chest-rattling sound design, and dialogue that makes you wonder if Bane swallowed a CB radio. We’ll unpack the film’s big themes—fear, pain, hope, and rebirth—before diving into the performances and the script’s endlessly quotable (and sometimes laughable) lines. Is Nolan a master of operatic storytelling, or just a guy who cranked the subwoofers and hoped Christian Bale’s whisper-growl would carry the day? Let’s find out. ----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

Inception isn’t just a movie—it’s Christopher Nolan’s ultimate brain prank. In the conclusion of our two-part deep-dive on Nolan’s mind-bending epic, we dissect dream heists, confusing layers, and that infamous spinning top. Did you really understand it—or are you just pretending? We break down every twist, turn, and “what just happened” moment so you can finally feel smug about your cinematic IQ. Spoilers included, patience not guaranteed. ----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  

Inception promised answers, but instead gave us spinning tops, folding cities, and Leonardo DiCaprio screaming into the void of his own trauma. In this first episode of our two-part dissection of Christopher Nolan’s ‘dream heist masterpiece,’ we begin to discuss why the film is equal parts brilliant, pretentious, and meme-worthy. From Hans Zimmer’s foghorn symphony to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s gravity-defying hallway brawl, we’re digging into the subconscious chaos that made Inception the internet’s favorite ‘explain this movie’ clickbait for over a decade. ----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

This week, we return to our series on the films of Christopher Nolan by diving headfirst into The Dark Knight — the movie that convinced an entire generation that growling equals gravitas. From Heath Ledger’s chaos-icon Joker to a Batman so serious he makes taxes look fun, we’re dissecting the film’s themes, IMAX spectacle, and how Hans Zimmer’s score is a nerve-shredding symphony of dread.  Is it a superhero movie? A crime epic? A two-and-a-half-hour TED Talk on moral ambiguity? Maybe all of the above. One thing’s clear: The Dark Knight isn’t just another cape flick — it’s a cinematic flex that made critics panic, rewrote Oscar history, and left us all quoting a clown in face paint like he was Shakespeare. ----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