Wrong Reel

This episode we review Zaza Urushadze's "Tangerines" which was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2015 Academy Awards and is just now being released in New York. Set during The War in Abkhazia (1992-1993) the film examines ethnic and religious tensions in a post-Soviet Georgia where many Estonians, save one, have chosen to return to Estonia. Continuing with the topic of racial tension, we go back to the pre-Civil Rights era of Hollywood to look at "The Defiant Ones" (1958) starring Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier. 00:00 - 18:12 - Introduction/News 18:13 - 38:44 - 'Tangerines' Review 38:45 - 01:08:53 - 'The Defiant Ones' (1958) 01:08:54 - 01:11:58 - Closing Remarks/Blooper

We welcome back guest host Brittany Starna to discuss the latest film by writer-director Olivier Assayas, "Clouds of Sils Maria", a story about an aging actress starring Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart & Chloë Grace Moretz. Seeing an opportunity to discuss one of his favorite movies on a similar theme, Mikhail Karadimov walks us through Paolo Sorrentino's extraordinary award-winning film "La Grande Bellezza" (2013). 00:00 - 19:50 - Introduction/News 19:51 - 50:01 - "Clouds of Sils Maria" Review 50:02 - 01:37:10 - "La Grande Bellezza" (2013) 01:37:11 - 01:41:20 - Closing Remarks/Blooper

This episode we sit down with Samuel Jamier and Rufus de Rham from Subway Cinema, an organization devoted to the appreciation of Asian film culture. Their flagship event is the annual New York Asian Film Festival but the topic of this podcast is the Old School Kung Fu Fest '15: Enter the Ninjas!! screening at the Anthology Film Archives 4/16-4/19. From Japanese classics such as "Shinobi No Mono" (1962) to the high octane insanity of "Five Element Ninjas" (1982), this is an essential series for anyone seeking to understand the dark, secret arts of the Ninja. Tickets available at http://oldschool15.brownpapertickets.com/

In a special episode we sit down with legendary animator Bill Plympton and his producer Adam Rackoff to discuss their Kickstarter Campaign to finance Bill's next feature film, "Revengeance". For the first time, Bill is collaborating with another animator, Jim Lujan, and the result is a wild and irreverent story that explores the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles. Bill need s your help to make the film happen and the rewards include an opportunity to appear as a character in the film.

This episode we review the season 5 premiere of one of the greatest and most cinematic television shows ever produced, "Game of Thrones", based on the series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin. Loosely inspired by the War of the Roses, we stay on the topic of dynastic wars and succession by revisiting Fred Zinnemann's classic adaptation of Robert Bolt's play "A Man for All Seasons", an essential classic for any Anglophile or lover of theater. 00:00 - 11:02 - Introduction/News 11:03 - 39:15 - "Game of Thrones" Season 5 Premiere Review 39:16 - 01:05:09 - "A Man for All Seasons" (1966) 01:05:10 - 01:07:57 - Closing Remarks/Blooper

This episode we review Alex Garland's directorial debut, "Ex Machina", a dark and erotic new science fiction film that is sure to delight fans of the genre for many years to come. While on the subject of stunningly beautiful AI, we look back at the cyberpunk classic "Ghost in the Shell" (1995) by Mamoru Oshii. 00:00 - 20:55 - Introduction/News 20:56 - 54:19 - "Ex Machina" Review 54:20 - 01:18:55 - "Ghost in the Shell" 01:18:56 - 01:22:16 - Closing Remarks/Blooper

With "Furious 7" shattering box office records for the month of April around the world, we sit down with guest host Brittany Starna (and rabid connoisseur of the series) to review the latest installment in the franchise and discuss why audiences are in such a frenzy over this movie. 00:00 - 16:10 - Introduction/News 16:11 - 01:36:59 - "Furious 7" Review 01:37:00 - 01:24:30 - Closing Remarks/Blooper

It is Generation X versus the Millenials as James Hancock and Mikhail Karadimov put their chins down and their fists up for a heated discussion about "Repulsion", "Citizen Kane" and a variety of other topics upon which they don't agree. Parker Dixon wisely chose to start recording about halfway through the argument, one that was never intended to be an episode. Enjoy.  (no animals were harmed in the recording of this podcast)

In anticipation of the theatrical and digital release of his new animated feature film Cheatin', Wrong Reel sits down with Indie Animaton legend Bill Plympton and executive producer Adam Rackoff to discuss Plympton's career to date and where it is headed. Full disclosure, Wrong Reel co-host James Hancock is one of the executive producers on Cheatin' so any notion of objectivity is completely abandoned. Cheatin' begins a nationwide tour on 4/3/15 (see www.cheatinmovie.com for screenings) and will be available on Vimeo On Demand 4/21/15.

Will Ferrell's latest outing "Get Hard" (directed by Etan Cohen) might not be his strongest vehicle but we used the film as an excuse to dig into the career highlights of one of the greatest comedic performers of his generation. Kevin Hart manages to shine in the movie as well, but we're all hoping he and Ferrell get hooked up with better material in the future. 00:00 - 23:07 - Introduction/News 23:08 - 53:57 - Will Ferrell's Career 53:58 - 01:17:17 - Get Hard Review 01:17:18 - 01:24:30 - Closing Remarks/Blooper

This is a special episode for gear heads and alcoholics alike as guest host Brittany Starna and Mikhail Karadimov introduce us to their favorite drinking game while providing color commentary to Justin Lin's "Fast Five" (2011). James Hancock and his little brother Chunk tie on a nice buzz in the process. #NSFW

With David Robert Mitchell's new horror film "It Follows" delighting horror fans across the country, we take a look at what makes the film tick before diving into one of the most beautiful black and white horror films ever made, Roman Polanski's "Repulsion" (1965). Featuring guest host Nick Stevens. 00:00 - 17:42 - Introduction/News 17:43 - 01:17:51 - "It Follows" Review 01:17:52 - 01:59:47 - Roman Polanski's "Repulsion" (1965) 01:59:48 - 02:03:58 - Closing Remarks/Blooper        

In honor of Friday the 13th, we take a look at two of the finest horror films ever made, F. W. Murnau's silent film classic "Nosferatu, Eine Symphonie Des Grauens" (1922) and Werner Herzog's 1979 remake "Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht" (1979). Featuring special guest host (and Mikhail Karadimov's producing partner), Brittany Starna.  00:00 - 13:48 - Introduction/Frozen Debate 13:49 - 35:16 - F. W. Murnau's "Nosferatu" (1922) 35:17 - 01:13:14 - Werner Herzog's "Nosferatu" (1979) 01:13:15 - 1:19:43 - Closing Remarks/Blooper

A key figure in the New German Cinema of the 1970s, Wim Wenders is one of the most distinctive, original voices in film working today. The Museum of Modern Art has assembled an extraordinary retrospective covering much of his career from his award winning "Wings of Desire" (1987) to his more recent films like "Pina" (2011), giving the folks at Wrong Reel the chance to see his films in the best way possible.   00:00 - 23:12 - Introduction/News 22:13 - 01:04:46 - Wings of Desire 01:04:47 - 01:25:48 - Pina 01:25:49 - 1:32:50 - Closing Remarks

In this episode, the gang delves into the life and work of one of film's biggest contributors to the art of film of the latter half of the 20th century, John Cassavetes.  Paying particular attention to "Faces" and "A Woman Under the Influence," Parker, James, and Mikhail discuss the raw emotional power of Cassavetes' undisputedly unique style of filmmaking. 00:00 - 19:55 - Introductions/News 19:56 - 51:51 - Faces 51:52 - 1:22:12 - A Woman Under the Influence 1:22:13 - 1:29:34 - Closing Remarks 1:29:35 - 1:34:13 - Bloopers/Dramatic Reading

With the release of David Cronenberg's new Hollywood satire/ghost story "Maps to the Stars" we take the opportunity to review the new film and compare the two major stages of Cronenberg's career as bodily horror maestro and art house director. 00:00 - 10:47 - Introductions/News 10:48 - 43:32 - "Maps to the Stars" Review 43:33 - 1:12:50 - "Dead Ringers" Review 1:12:51 - 1:17:59 - Closing Remarks/Upcoming Episodes

"Wild Tales" is not only the biggest indigenous hit in Argentina's history, but also puts the world on notice that a filmmaker named Damián Szifrón is out there making some of the most blackhearted, hysterical cinema imaginable. In this episode we also look back at Lucrecia Martel's film "La Ciénaga" (2001), a movie often described as Chekhov in contemporary Argentina. 

In this week's episode we offer up some Oscar predictions before diving into an intense discussion of the films of John Carpenter, a director whose films had an enormous impact on our childhoods. 

Matthew Vaughn's latest film "Kingsman: The Secret Service" is not just a deliriously entertaining nod to the classic spy movies of the past, the movie also tips its hat to the Arthurian Legends that were captured so well in John Boorman's classic "Excalibur" (1981) now playing at the New York Film Forum alongside his other films. In this episode we leap to the defense of Matthew Vaughn's latest movie which is under attack by humorless critics with a blatant agenda while also singing the praises of "Excalibur", the best adult fantasy movie ever made.

In honor of the retrospective of John Boorman's work at the Film Forum (Feb 11th-17th) we recorded our second commentary episode while watching Boorman's truly strange and offbeat post-apocalyptic adventure film "Zardoz" (1974). Starring Sean Connery and Charlotte Rampling in a film often described as the best bad movie ever made, we try and determine for ourselves if this is a misunderstood classic deserving of rediscovery.