ReelBlend (CinemaBlend)

Edward Norton Talks Fight Club, Motherless Brooklyn & More

We are incredibly humbled to welcome Edward Norton on the show to discuss his new film Motherless Brooklyn (starring Bruce Willis, Willem Dafoe, Alec Baldwin). He also gets into some sweet stories from the set of Fight Club and David Fincher's meticulous process, we learn a bit about that iconic twist at the end of Primal Fear, and he discusses the process of being a writer/director/actor.

This past week, the guys all had some amazing trips, and interviews to share. Jake was able to visit The Stanley Hotel, the inspiration behind Stephen King's The Shining, for the upcoming release of Doctor Sleep (starring Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson). Sean interviewed Bruce Springsteen...at his house, and toured his studio. We missed Kevin last week, but he's back with stories of several movie locations he was able to visit during his trip through China and Japan!

The guys react to the latest trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and give their takes on whether or not they feel the hype for the ending of the Skywalker Saga. The contention between some of cinema's best, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola, and tentpole superhero films continues, and we now have a statement from Disney CEO himself, Bob Iger. Things are getting spicy, and we must dive right in.

For this week's BlendGame, we're celebrating the long, storied career of John Carpenter with #JohnCarpenterBlend. Next week, we're rebooting our discussion on Arnold Schwarzenegger, now looking at our FAVORITE films, with #ArnoldBlend.

This Week In Movies
- Countdown (starring Elizabeth Lail, Jordan Calloway)
- The Current War: Director's Cut (starring Tom Holland, Benedict Cumberbatch, Katherin Waterston)
- Black and Blue (starring Naomie Harris, Mike Colter, Tyrese Gibson)
- Dolemite Is My Name (starring Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes)
 

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Tom Hanks is here. You read that correctly. Tom Hanks himself joins ReelBlend to promote his new film Elvis (also starring Austin Butler). Mr. Tom Hanks was generous enough with his time to share stories from across his career, including breaking down some of the moments and cast reactions to filming Saving Private Ryan’s famous opening. He also gives some fantastic advice for young actors and shares an incredible moment from working with Paul Newman on Road to Perdition which informs how he approaches his fellow actors even to this day. The wonderful stories don’t end there, so strap in and enjoy. 

Following our interview, we give our reviews for Elvis and even discuss our favorite Tom Hanks movies of all time. 

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• Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Timestamps (approx. only

00:08:19 - Tom Hanks Interview

00:55:22 - Box Office Reactions

01:09:57 - This Week In Movies

01:13:59 - Elvis Review

01:28:36 - Our Favorite Tom Hanks Movies

01:48:11 - Outro

Director Bill Condon Talks Robert Pattinson, The Oscars & The Good Liar

This week, we are joined by Bill Condon, writer and director behind films like Dreamgirls, Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, to talk about his latest film The Good Liar. He gets into what it feels like the moment you win an Oscar, he reflects on Robert Pattinson's career and recent choice to play Batman, and he comments on the ever-evolving "Scorsese vs Marvel" debate.

With The Irishman's awkward release calendar, we are finally getting to our spoiler-free discussion of the film, and Gabe (yes, that Gabe) makes his first (sort of) appearance on the show to discuss the time he visited the set of Doctor Sleep. We also dive into Doctor Sleep's disappointing box office weekend, and Sean shares a little bit about his take on some recent events surrounding the "Snyder Cut" of Justice League.

This week's BlendGame is a doozy with #90sBlend. Next week, we tackle our favorite movie musicals of all time with #MusicalBlend.

This Week In Movies

• Charlie's Angels (Starring Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, Elizabeth Banks)
• Ford v Ferrari (Starring Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Jon Bernthal)
• Waves (Starring Taylor Russell, Kelvin Harrison Jr.)
• The Good Liar (Starring Ian McKellen, Helen Mirren)

ReelBlend Episode 100 D.C. Meet-Up!!

We are getting together in Washington D.C. to celebrate our 100th episode (and sort of the New Year) on January 4, 2020! Head over to our event page at bit.ly/ReelBlendDC to sign up, and let us know you're coming. Exact time and venue TBD.

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Pete Docter, writer/director/producer behind Pixar's Soul joins the show! We discuss his approach to animation and Pixar's incredible run of films. He gets into the work he and team did with composers Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor on the music for the film. There's plenty of nerdy information on the process that you've come to know in love from our interviews, and we hope you love this film as much as we did.

If you haven't yet seen Soul, now streaming on Disney+, don't worry this is all spoiler free. However, we can't recommend it enough, and this interview is all the better having seen it. So get to it!

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Writer, Director Greta Gerwig joins the show to discuss her new film Barbie (starring Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling). We learn about the F-bomb removed from the film featuring Helen Mirren and historical figure Marie Curie (naturally), working with cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, America Ferrera’s brilliant monologue, and more. 

After the interview, we give our spoiler-free review of the film, as well as Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. 

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:05:03 - Greta Gerwig Interview | Barbie, Kubrick & More

00:42:33 - ‘Barbie’ Review (Spoiler-Free)

00:54:44 - ‘Oppenheimer’ Review (Spoiler-Free)

01:08:29 - ‘Oppenheimer’

01:21:26 - Outro

Anne Hathaway and Anthony Hopkins star in the new film Armageddon Time. On this week’s show, director James Grey dishes on the making of the film, with the addition of a delicious surprise.

We also discuss the new trailer for Avatar: The Way Of Water, Black Adam’s box office performance, our review for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and our favorite Anthony Hopkins movie.

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• Sean - @Sean_OConnell 
• Jake - @JakesTakes
• Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV
• Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:09:00 - James Gray Interview

00:39:28 - Box Office Reactions

00:51:30 - Avatar: The Way of Water Trailer Reaction

01:09:54 - This Week In Movies

01:14:52 - Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Review

01:26:50 - Armageddon Time Review

01:38:15 - Our Favorite Anthony Hopkins Movie

1:53:30 - Outro

Writer/Director duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller join the show to discuss the finale of their new Apple TV+ show The Afterparty. We dive into plenty of spoilers so be warned, and series star Ben Schwartz joins in on the fun! 

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• Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Oscar-winning director Edward Berger joins ReelBlend to discuss the making of his new film "Conclave," starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and Isabella Rossellini. He shares his creative process with core collaborators like his editor, composer, and costume designer, whether or not the Vatican allowed them to shoot on the premises, Francis Ford Coppola, and more. 

After the interview, stick around for our "Conclave" and "Venom: The Last Dance" reviews, including spoiler-filled sections for each.

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Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 2:02 - Tangent Alert!: BLADE 
• 13:13 - Edward Berger Interview - ‘Conclave’
• 39:34 - ‘Conclave’ Review
• 47:59 - ‘Conclave’ Spoilers
• 1:05:09 - ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ Review
• 1:08:38 - ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ Spoilers
• 1:18:23 - Outro

2023’s remaining movie slate is still packed with highly anticipated titles hitting both theaters and streaming. On this week’s show, we take a look at a few of our favorites from Dune Part II, to Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, to Rebel Moon from Zack Snyder and more. 

What movie are you most looking forward to before the end of the year? Let us know in the comments. 

Also this week, Talk To Me directors Danny and Michael Philipou join us to discuss their hit new horror film from A24, and we review DC's Blue Beetle.

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Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00:00 - Intro 
• 00:07:28 - Talk To Me Directors, Danny & Michael Philipou Interview
• 00:24:56 - Blue Beetle Review
• 00:35:48 - 2023 Fall Movie Preview
• 01:15:53 - Outro

With Kevin Smith’s Clerk’s III on the horizon, the guys take a look back at his filmography to figure out which ranks as his masterpiece.

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:05:45 - Kevin Smith Tier List

00:58:10 - National Cinema Day!

01:13:05 - Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Review

01:24:05 - This Week In Movies

01:25:45 - Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul. Review

01:32:30 - Our Favorite Regina Hall Movies

01:40:10 - Outro

We’re rounding out our coverage of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse with the directing team behind the film, Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, diving right into spoilers and moments from the making of. Stick around through the interview for our own spoiler-filled reactions to the film, including a debate on how it ends, what could come next with Beyond the Spider-Verse, and more. 

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Sean - @Sean_OConnell

Jake - @JakesTakes

Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV

Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:06:53 - Spoiler-Filled Chat With 'Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse' Directors

00:39:39 - ’Across The Spider-Verse’ Box Office Results

00:47:04 - SPOILERS: ‘Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’ Discussion

01:15:46 - Outro

On this week's show we react to trailers for Kenneth Branagh's upcoming Death on the Nile, starring Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, and Sofia Coppola's On The Rocks, starring Bill Murray and Rashida Jones. Kevin Hart and Will Smith are set to reboot the John Hughs classic Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and we aren't sure why, to be honest?

Lovecraft Country premiered it's first, extended episode on HBO this past weekend. Jake and Kevin are already loving where the series is taking them, and so they give their initial thoughts.

Russell Crowe is set to return audiences to theaters this weekend with his latest action flick Unhinged. We give our reviews on that, and let you know what else is available This Week In Movies.

And finally, for this week's BlendGame we are looking at Russell Crowe's amazing career to find out which is our favorite performance. Next week, we diving to the versatile, and wide-ranging work from Octavia Spencer. Let us know your pick using #OctaviaSpencerBlend on Twitter.

This Week In Movies

• Chemical Hearts (Amazon Prime)
• The Sleepover (Netflix)
• The One and Only Ivan (Disney+)
• Tesla (VOD)
• Unhinged (In Theaters)
• Cutthroat City (In Theaters)

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David Oyelowo joins the show to discuss his directorial debut feature The Water Man. The film which critics are describing as “Spielbergian” stars Rosario Dawson, Maria Bello, Alfred Molina and David Oyelowo himself. David shares an incredible behind-the-scenes story about how he was thrust into the director’s chair just before filming, his principles for telling a “live-action Pixar” story and more. 

Marvel dropped dates and footage from across their Phase 4 slate, but we also discuss some notable titles that were left out. Sean and Gabe give their final thoughts on Invincible’s first season following the finale and announcement that Amazon had ordered at least 2 more seasons for their streaming platform. While Jake and Kevin were able to catch up on The Mitchells vs The Machines which dropped last week on Netflix, and give their thoughts on what has become one of their favorites of the year so far. 

This Week In Movies

• Here Today
• Mainstream (limited)
• The Paper Tigers (limited)
• Monster (Netflix)
• Wrath of Man
• The Water Man

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Timestamps (approx. only)

3:42 - Weekly Poll: Which May film are you most excited for?

7:31 - David Oyelowo Interview

24:28 - Marvel’s Phase 4 Teaser

37:57 - Tom Hanks’ Bios To Apple TV+

49:26 - Invincible Finale

56:57 - The Michells vs. The Machines 

1:04:41 - This Week In Movies

1:15:30 - Favorite David Oyelowo 

1:21:05 - Outro 

Controversial Bird Box Numbers & Most Anticipated 2019 Movies

Episode 50 is here! We did it! This is a really special edition of ReelBlend full of movie news, Golden Globe predictions, Sean O'Connell, Jake Hamilton and Kevin McCarthy's most anticipated films of 2019, and a very special ReelBlend guest to play along with #GoslingBlend. Thank you all so much for tuning in every week, and we can't wait to bring you 50 more.

You can follow the show on Twitter @ReelBlend

Play along with next week's game when we'll give our favorite movies and performances from the inimitable Charlize Theron! #TheronBlend

Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve returns! Kicking off episode 300 of our little show, the director joins us to discuss the making of Dune: Part Two, starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Josh Brolin. Dune: Part Two was this show’s most-anticipated movie of 2024, so it’s an incredible honor to welcome a legend like Denis Villeneuve back on the show for such a special occasion. 

Following our interview, we get into our reviews. Like many others, we came out of the theater absolutely glowing, and can’t wait for you all to experience it for yourselves. 

Wrapping this week up, we couldn’t get through the 300th episode without a little celebration and look back at some of our most cherished moments. If you’ve been a part of this ride in any way, thank you! We’d love to hear from you down in the comments about when and how you found us. Here’s to 300 more?

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Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 05:43 - Interview | Denis Villeneuve Talks ‘Dune: Part Two’
• 36:46 - ‘Dune: Part Two’ Review
• 1:01:48 - Celebrating 300 Episodes! 
• 1:37:28 - Outro

Critics' Choice Awards & Oscar Predictions

This is AwardsBlend, a regular podcast on the CinemaBlend podcast network that is hosted by Managing Director Sean O'Connell Fox 5 Washington D.C. Entertainment Reporter Kevin McCarthy, and Fox 32 Chicago Entertainment Reporter Jake Hamilton. Sean and Kevin start off by talking about the Critics' Choice Awards, an event they were both able to attend (Jake was missed). From there, the show dives into the controversy swirling around a few current awards contenders, from James Franco of The Disaster Artist to the entirety of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Do bad headlines affect a movie or actor's awards chances? The boys discuss. Oh, then they play a really fun game where they take an actual Best Picture winner from the past 10 years and strip away its win, handing the Oscar to the movie that really SHOULD have won in that year. Things get heated!

Be sure to check out CinemaBlend for all the entertainment you care about.

We’ve seen Denis Villeneuve’s Dune! Don’t worry, no details, and certainly no spoilers, will be given in this week’s show; however, we do want to you all our general thoughts on our most anticipated movie of the year. 

Also on this week’s show, the wonderful director Gavin O’Connor joins the show to chat about Warrior (starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton) for its 10th Anniversary. We get some great details on the film’s underlying motivations from his own personal life, a look back at its failed opening weekend at the box office and we get confirmation on a new series based in the spirit of the film which he currently has in development. Finally, we also broke news that Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal are returning for two more The Accountant sequels. 

This Week In Movies

- Queenpins

- Small Engine Repair

- The Card Counter

- Malignant

- Kate

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:03:40 - Weekly Poll

00:15:10 - Gavin O’Connor Interview

00:51:43 - Michael K. Williams’ Passing

00:59:41 - Dune Reactions

01:11:08 - Queenpins 

01:12:06 - Small Engine Repair

01:16:15 - The Card Counter

01:17:49 - Malignant

01:18:25 - Kate

01:23:31 - Our Favorite James Wan Movies

01:38:46 - Outro

Robin Wright and Demián Bichir join the show to discuss their new film, and her directorial debut, Land. Land is a gorgeous, subtle film, and an impressive debut feature from Wright. They both have now in fact sat in the director’s chair on occasion, and so we discuss some of the lessons they took from directors while acting, and the major do’s and don’ts of the job. We also dig into the film’s gorgeous cinematography from Bobby Bukowski and why Robin chose to shoot an image much taller than your typical widescreen. 

The Golden Globes happened! The guys give their reactions to this year’s unique telecast, and we discuss how the race to the Oscars is shaping up with this new stable of award winners. Also, Sean’s book “Release the Snyder Cut: The Crazy True Story Behind the Fight That Saved Zack Snyder's Justice League” is finally out. Jake and Kevin take some time to ask Sean about the surreal ride of writing and releasing an actual book, and the response to it so far. 

Wesley Snipes has turned out iconic performance after iconic performance for decades, and in this week’s BlendGame we decide which of his is our favorite. Next week, we’re looking to the Fantasy genre with #FantasyMovieBlend. Send in your favorite Fantasy movie on Twitter using the hashtag, and we might just read it out on the show. 

The Week In Movies

• Land
• Moxie (Netflix)
• Boss Level (Hulu)
• Boogie
• Chaos Walking 
• Raya and the Last Dragon (Theaters & Disney+ Premium)
• Coming 2 America (Amazon Prime Video)

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ReelBlend Merch

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Timestamps (approx. only)

3:40 - Weekly Poll

6:03 - Robin Wright & Demián Bichir Interview

28:20 - Sean’s Book Release

43:45 - Golden Globes Reactions

1:03:23 - This Week In Movies

1:20:58 - Wesley Snipes Favorites

Creed II & Green Book Reviews

Sean, Kevin, and Jake are back this week with more movie news and reviews. They discuss this past weekend's box-office results, the current state of the Oscar race, as well as give their thoughts on Creed II, Green Book, and Robin Hood which all hit theaters this holiday weekend. But before the guys head off to spend time with their families they debated their favorite roles from Jamie Foxx. #FoxxBlend

• Follow the show on Twitter @ReelBlend
• Play along with next week's game when they debate their favorite performances from Sylvester Stallone. #StalloneBlend

After we had such a blast speaking with Tony Cervone for his latest film Scoob!, we knew we had to get him back on the show for something fun. Earlier in his career, Tony was the Animation Director on the classic Space Jam movie starring Michael Jordan so he sat down with us to watch through the film, and dropped some amazing behind-the-scenes stories along the way.

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Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily, and Jonathan Majors, hits theaters this weekend. Sean, Kevin, and Gabe give their spoiler-free thoughts on Marvel’s first entry into Phase 5 discussing Kang The Conqueror’s debut, Kathryn Newton’s turn as Cassie Lang, and more. Stick around for our spoiler-filled segment, and see our timestamps below if you wish to avoid them. 

Also this week, we have to talk about the new trailer for The Flash. DC is getting more and more interesting these days, and The Flash is promising a very intriguing start to James Gunn’s plans for the future. 

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - intro

00:06:12 - The Flash Trailer Reactions

00:23:14 - Kevin Feige Talks Spider-Man 4 & President Harrison Ford

00:32:39 - This Week In Movies

00:35:43 - Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania Review

00:52:42 - Ant-Man Spoilers!

01:07:09 - Our Favorite Jonathan Majors Movies

01:16:52 - Outro

The cinematic universe formerly known as the DCEU, now the DC Universe, has had a bumpy ride from the early days of Man of Steel, through the saga of the Snyder Cut and now on to Black Adam and beyond. On this week’s show, we return to the Tier List format to see how the films stack up against each other. 

Stick around through the tier list for our reviews of the important, and devastating new film She Said which chronicles the incredible work of two New York Times investigative journalists as they break the Harvey Weinstein scandal back in 2017. With the release of She Said, we also discuss the works of one of its stars, Carey Mulligan, as we try to choose which of her performances is our favorite. 

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro 

00:07:04 - DC Universe Tier List

01:15:36 - This Week In Movies

01:18:46 - She Said Review

01:32:08 - Our Favorite Carrey Mulligan Movie

01:42:14 - Outro

Writer/director Ben Wheatley joins the show to chat about his new horror film In the Earth which he wrote and shot in the past year while some of his larger projects have been put on hold. He discusses some of the film’s visual tricks, the origins of the story and characters, working under strict safety protocols and how that might change the outlook of The Meg 2. 

In the main show, we react to the new trailer for Zack Snyder’s upcoming zombie action flick Army of the Dead, as well as the trailer for F9. Paramount recently shifted their release calendar seemingly in light of Disney’s recent theatrical shift. And finally, we debate our favorite performances from Oscar Isaac. 

Next week, we’re looking to the incredible work from renowned composer, and friend of the show Michael Giacchino. Send in your favorite score or movie scored by Giacchino using #MichaelGiacchinoBlend on Twitter. 

This Week In Movies 

- SAS: Red Notice

- Monday

- In the Earth

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Timestamps (approx. only)

4:43 - Weekly Poll: How excited are you for Indiana Jones 5?

15:32 - Ben Wheatley Interview

38:43 - Army of the Dead Trailer

49:45 - F9 Trailer

1:00:15 - Top Gun and More Shift

1:09:59 - This Week In Movies

1:16: 25 - Favorite Oscar Isaac

1:29:53 - Outro

The filmmakers behind Scream VI, starring Jenna Ortega, Courteney Cox, and Melissa Barrera, join us to discuss the latest installment in the Scream franchise. , the trio that makes up Radio Silence, discuss bringing Ghostface to New York City, making a Scream movie without Neve Campbells Sydney Prescott, and more.

Also this week, we give our final predictions for who will take home the little golden statues at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony.

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:04:53 - Radio Silence ‘Scream VI’ Interview

00:36:07 - 2023 Oscars Predictions

01:26:41 - ’65’ Review

01:32:06 - ‘Scream VI’ Review

01:47:33 - Outro

Writer, director, and actor James Morosini joins the show to talk about his breakout feature I Love My Dad, starring himself, Patton Oswalt, and Claudia Sulewski. The film won the audience award at this year's SXSW Film Festival and has won over audiences on its tour through the festival circuit. We discuss the story which inspired the film, his therapist pushing him to make the film, Claudia Sulewski’s daunting role and flawless execution, and so much. 

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Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” (starring Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone) hits theaters this weekend. The film is filled with incredible performance after incredible performance from both its lead and supporting cast. Its tragic true story deserves the extended runtime Scorsese presents us, and we are sure to continue discussing “Killers of the Flower Moon” throughout the awards season. 

Join us this week for our full, spoiler-free reviews of one of this year’s best, and stick around once you’ve seen the film for our more in-depth thoughts in the spoiler section. 

Jake’s Full Martin Scorsese Interview: https://youtu.be/ADwbyCzOgww?si=W3dtv8DJ8RvXNuMG

Martin Scorsese Edit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CylMjtILRbT/

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Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 6:09 - ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Review (Spoiler-Free)
• 34:50 - SPOILERS!
• 1:03:41 - Jake Interviewed Martin Scorsese!
• 1:07:33 - Outro

With its films rarely hitting theaters, and the ones that do rarely debuting with much fanfare, is Netflix hurting its films with its more ephemeral release model? That’s a big topic on this week’s show. We discuss how both films and series on Netflix seem to come and go through the cultural zeitgeist, whether or not that is sustainable, and whether we think it should change. 

Also this week, director David Yates joins us to discuss his new film “Pain Husters,” his time working in the Wizarding World, and the upcoming documentary “David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived” which tells the story of Daniel Radcliffe and his Harry Potter stunt double David Holmes who endured a life-changing accident on set.  

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Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 11:58 - David Yates Talks ‘Harry Potter’ & ‘Pain Hustlers’
• 34:31 - Netflix’s Bad Release Model & ‘Pain Hustlers’ Review
• 41:42 - ‘Five Nights At Freddy’s’ Surprises Us With A Huge Box Office Win
• 56:37 - Sophia Coppola’s ‘Priscilla’ Review
• 1:12:49 - ‘Now and Then - The Last Beatles Song’
• 1:27:30 - Outro

Director Stephen Williams and writer Stefani Robinson join us to talk about their new film Chevalier, starring Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lucy Boynton, and Samara Weaving. 

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Shazam! Fury of the Gods (starring Zachary Levi, Helen Mirren, and Rachel Zegler) hits theaters this weekend. Director David F. Sandberg returns to the show to discuss some behind-the-scenes moments from making the film. We chat about Henry Cavill’s planned cameo in the first film, how his horror movie roots can influence even a big-budget superhero movie, the casting of Rachel Zegler, and more. 

Also this week, we have to talk about the Oscars ceremony, one of the absolute best in recent memory. And, of course, we also have to announce this year’s Oscar Wager winner. 

Stick around to hear our full spoiler-free review of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, but be warned we do dip into a few spoilers before moving on to this week’s BlendGame. See the timestamps below if that is something you want to avoid. 

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:07:05 - Director David F. Sandberg Talks Shazam! Fury Of The Gods

00:25:04 - Oscar Ceremony Review & Wager Winner Announced

00:48:48 - Shazam! Fury Of The Gods Review

01:00:44 - Shazam! 2 Spoilers

01:05:50 - Our Favorite Helen Mirren Movies

01:11:52 - Outro

Writer, director, and executive producer Colin Trevorrow joins us to dig into spoiler territory for his new film Jurassic World: Dominion. He describes the process of setting out a 3-film arc early on with the World half of the franchise, splitting up his films and collaborating with a different director for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, reacting to the legacy characters (Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill) back on screen together and more. 

You won’t want to miss this fascinating chat. Just be warned…spoilers!

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Josh Trank Talks Capone, Tom Hardy, Fantastic Four & More

Writer/director Josh Trank joins us to discuss his latest film Capone starring Tom Hardy. Following the fallout of his last film, Fantastic Four, Josh discusses how that influenced the writing of this project, how they went about casting Tom Hardy and how close they've become since. He also discusses how working on a Star Wars film meant he knew about that Han Solo spoilers years before the rest of us, he gives some advice to young filmmakers, and so much more. 

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HBO's The Last of Us has blown us away. Cinematographer Eben Bolter, who shot episodes 3 through 5, joins us to discuss how he lobbied to adapt one of his favorite video games, working with Bella Ramsey on Episode 5's incredible final scene and constructing the incredible episode "Long, Long Time."

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Legendary Cinematographer Roger Deakins & Director John Crowley Talk The Goldfinch

Director John Crowley and Cinematographer Roger Deakins join the show to discuss their work on The Goldfinch. They get into the approach of adapting a highly regarded novel, what it was like on set when Deakins won his first Oscar for Blade Runner 2049, and the process of casting.

Before we get into that though, we talk about the recent report that Robert Downey Jr. will show up as Tony Stark in Black Widow (starring Scarlet Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour). Spoiler: the guys aren't all that happy about it. We also talk about IT Chapter 2's (starring Bill Hader, James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain) box office, and the prospect of a third movie in the franchise.

In honor of Deakins' appearance on the show, we played #RogerDeakinsBlend to determine which of his shots are our absolute favorite. Next week, we're going to dive into our favorite movie posters of all time with #MoviePosterBlend. Send us your favorite movie poster on Twitter using that hashtag, and way might just discuss your pick on the show!

This Week In Movies

Where’s My Roy Cohn?
Downton Abbey
Rambo: Last Blood
Ad Astra

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Rebecca Ferguson joins the show to discuss all things Dune: Part Two. We walk through her collaborations with Denis Villeneuve on bringing Jessica to screen, fine-tuning Jessica's relationship with her unborn prescient daughter, and even some of the silly NSFW names for objects in the Dune world. We also had to bring up the iconic "Facob Tremblay" story from behind the scenes of Doctor Sleep. 

After the interview, we give our final predictions before this year's Oscars!

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Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 5:14 - Rebecca Ferguson Interview
• 33:53 - Our Final Oscars Predictions
• 1:37:19 - Outro

Writer/director/actor Emerald Fennell joins the show to discuss her directorial debut Promising Young Woman (starring Carey Mulligan, Alison Brie, Adam Brody).

Emerald and Sean talk about the brilliance of Carey Mulligan, and her performance as the lead. Emerald shares a story about a fight breaking out at an early test screening, the impossible task of acting drunk and more.

We'll be back next week with a full episode of the show featuring our top 10 movies of 2020.

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Damien Chazelle Talks Filmmaking & We Break Down The Snyder Cut Announcement

We have a whirlwind of a show for you today including the appearance of a bonafide patron saint of the show, director Damien Chazelle. He joins us to discuss he latest project The Eddy, now streaming on Netflix, and of course we discuss some of our truly favorite films from his filmography including La La Land and First Man. We also unexpectedly get into the Final Destination series, but you'll have to listen through to find out. 

And if that wasn't big enough for once episode of ReelBlend, Zack Snyder, alongside Superman himself Henry Cavill, announced that the "Snyder Cut" is in fact very real, and will be hitting the HBO Max streaming service next year. The Oscars might be happening a little later than expected next year as there are rumors floating that they will delay the awards broadcast. Tom Hank's WWII action flick Greyhound is skipping theaters and headed straight to Apple TV+. And finally, the great Spike Lee has a new joint, Da 5 Bloods, coming to Netflix, and we have a sweet new trailer to discuss. 

For this week's BlendGame, we honor the incredibly dynamic career of Steve Carell. Next week, we're debating our choices from the filmography of the inimitable Natalie Portman. Play along using #NataliePortmanBlend. 

This Week In Movies (er...Streaming)

• The Lovebirds (Netflix)
• Rocketman (HULU & Amazon Prime Video)
• Ready or Not (HBO)

3:01 - Weekly Poll: Who is our mystery guest this week?
6:25 - Damien Chazelle Interview
44:46 - News: Snyder Cut Release, Oscars Delay & More
1:24:59 - This Week In Movies (er...Streaming)
1:29:53 - #SteveCarellBlend

Now On Video! 
Catch video versions of the show now available on CinemaBlend's YouTube channel. 

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Director Shawn Levy joins the show to chat about his new film The Adam Project! The interview is spoiler-free, but if you’d like to check out the film first, it’s on Netflix right now!

In our interview, Shawn Levy discusses working with Ryan Reynolds, their collaborative approach, how they ended up using those classic rock songs, bringing emotional depth to a Sci-Fi world, and much, much more.

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Samwise himself Sean Astin joins us this week for a wonderful interview all about The Lord of the Rings. It's rare that you get to interview a cast member of a beloved franchise, and even more rare to get to interview about said franchise. We had a blast chatting with Sean Astin about his last scene on set, gallivanting about New Zealand with a cool guy like Ian McKellen, the time Peter Jackson crushed him with a single note, and so much more. It really turned out to be a highlight reel of awesome Lord of the Rings stories.

In the bulk of the show, we discuss Wonder Woman 1984's move to HBO Max. (Note: this was recorded before the bombshell news of Warner Bros. 2021 slate. More on that next week.) Sean and Jake wee able to interview George Clooney recently, and so they gush about the process and his unbelievable levels of charm before getting into the movies dropping this week.

Finally, we celebrate Angela Bassett's staggering talent and career with our BlendGame. Next week, we're looking at our favorite directors who started as actors with #ActorTurnedDirectorBlend

This Week In Movies

• All My Life
• Half Brothers
• Nomadland (limited)
• Sound of Metal (Amazon Prime Video)
• Mank (Netflix)
• The Prom (Netflix)

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Director Halina Reijn joins the show to discuss her new movie Bodies Bodies Bodies, starring Amanda Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennott, Pete Davidson. We talk about the film’s incredible ending (no spoilers!), working with her cast to create a specific tone and realism, her use of music and score, as well as the ingenious way they let the actors light each other in the film’s dim night scenes. 

Stick around for our review of Bodies Bodies Bodies, a breakdown of the Batgirl saga at DC, and more. Finally, Phil Contrino from the National Association of Theater Owners stops by for a chat about the positive outlook on the future of the theater-going experience. 

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:03:58 - Halina Reijn Interview

00:29:39 - Is A24 THE Director’s Studio?

00:40:03 - HBO Max & DC Explained

00:55:26 - Interview: Looking Ahead At The Theatrical Experience

01:11:40 - This Week In Movies

01:12:38 - ‘Mark & Rita’ Review

01:16:06 - ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ Review

01:22:02 - Our Favorite Book Adaptations

01:42:43 - Outro

Jamie Lee Curtis and Director David Gordon Green join the show to talk about bringing the Halloween franchise to an end with Halloween Ends. Jamie Lee Curtis opens up about her first and last days at Laurie Strode on set, Nick Castle, examining trauma and more. 

Stick around for our reviews of the film, and a lively chat on this past weekend's box office results. Also, we celebrate Glass Onion getting a theatrical run, and keep our hopes high for more films from Netflix following that model. 

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:56 - Jamie Lee Curtis & David Gordon Green Interview

00:21:02 - Box Office Chat: Smile Still Crushing

00:39:15 - Glass Onion Headed To Theaters

00:51:42 - Tár Review

01:02:05 - Halloween Ends Review

01:16:14 - Our Favorite Halloween Sequels

01:25:54 - Outro

Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has finally dropped a first-look trailer attached to Nope in IMAX! Check out our reactions and predictions for what Nolan has in store for us next year. Oppenheimer isn’t the only trailer we need to talk about this week. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has finally given us a look at how the Marvel story will continue following the passing of Chadwick Boseman, and it appears they will do so with beauty and respect for the legacy he left behind in the franchise. 

We also chat about Nope’s opening weekend box office results, review BJ Novak’s Vengeance and discuss our favorite Mystery movies. 

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:03:36 - Nope Box Office Results

00:16:40 - Oppenheimer Trailer Reaction

00:32:33 - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Trailer Reaction

00:54:20 - She-Hulk: Attorney At Law Trailer Reaction

00:59:44 - This Week In Movies

01:05:02 - DC League of Super-Pets Review

01:07:11 - Vengeance Review

01:16:38 - Our Favorite Mystery Movies

01:29:12 - Outro

Oscar-winning filmmaker and comedy legend Peter Farrelly joins the show to discuss his new film Ricky Stanicky! Not only do we dive into the comedic prowess of John Cena in his new film, but we couldn’t have Peter Farrelly on the show without discussing his collaborations with Jim Carrey. We can’t wait for you to hear his behind-the-scenes gems on how Dumb & Dumber was finally made, casting both Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels and so much more. 

Later this week, our interview with Dune: Part Two star Rebecca Ferguson hits our feeds so stay tuned!

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Buckle up, we’re taking a look at the entire Fast and Furious franchise to give our ranking of each film on the official ReelBlend tier list ahead of the theatrical debut of Fast X (starring Vin Diesel, Jason Momoa, Charlize Theron). 

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:05:56 - Box Office Reacts: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Opening Weekend

00:18:53 - ‘The Fast and the Furious” Tier List

01:05:30 - ‘Blackberry’ Review

01:08:32 - Our Favorite Summer Flops

01:18:04 - Outro

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Reviews, Spider-Man 2 Reveal & Arnold Schwarzenegger's Best One-Liner

This week, Sean O'Connell, Jake Hamilton, and Kevin McCarthy breakdown Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom, discuss recent movie news, and debate Arnold Schwarzenegger's best role and one-liner.

Follow the show on Twitter @ReelBlend

Oscar Nominations Revealed & SAG Awards Reactions

AwardsBlend co-hosts Sean O'Connell, Kevin McCarthy and Jake Hamilton hop behind their microphones this week to talk about the various Oscar nominations, where Guillermo del Toro's sci-fi creature romance The Shape of Water led all contenders with 13 noms, but Jordan Peele's Get Out followed right behind. Peele and his colleague, Greta Gerwig, also made headway as first-time filmmakers who broke into the coveted Best Director race. And we made connections to the Screen Actors Guild Awards winners, who all got Oscar nominations -- so we wonder if that makes them frontrunners in their respective categories.

But things really heat up when the guys get into a discussion about beloved cinematographer Roger Deakins, who is nominated for his work on Blade Runner 2049. But he shot it digitally, and the AwardsBlend hosts wonder if the decision to not shoot on film will hurt him in his bid to FINALLY win an Oscar after 13 previous nominations and not one win.

Avengers: Infinity War Spoiler Discussion w/ Guest Erik Davis (Fandango)

To help us settle a few of these key issues with Infinity War, we called in some help. Erik Davis is the Managing Editor over at Fandango, and a long-time friend of the guys. He knows his stuff when it comes to movies, and especially the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So we asked him on ReelBlend, and he was an awesome guest. Listen to what he has to say.

There were a lot of questions Jake Hamilton, Kevin McCarthy and Sean O'Connell wanted to address. What happened to the heroes? What will happen to those who are left? How does Thanos (Josh Brolin) know Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.)? Why did Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) give up the Time Stone?

After that, it was time for this week's #Blend, and man, was it a hard one. The guys chose Tom Cruise, and debated the seasoned A-Lister's BEST performance. Some of them landed on the same answer. The listeners, who played along using #CruiseBlend on social media, ended up with a totally different answer. That's how good Cruise is.

Writer-director-producer Greg Berlanti joins us this week to discuss his new rom-com "Fly Me To The Moon," starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum. We discuss Colin Jost and Scarlett sharing the screen for the first time, playing with the idea of faking the moon landing, and more. 

Stick around after the interview for our review of the film, our thoughts on Ridley Scott's "Gladiator II" trailer, and Sean's major hype for the future of the "Karate Kid" franchise.

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Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00:00 - Intro 
• 00:06:31 - Greg Berlanti Interview
• 00:32:28 - ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ Interview
• 00:41:51 - Go See ‘Longlegs’
• 00:45:17 - ‘Gladiator 2’ Trailer Reactions
• 00:59:00 - Sean Gushes About ‘Cobra Kai’
• 01:06:15 - Outro

Director Eli Roth joins to discuss his new slasher flick Thanksgiving, based on the incredible trailer from all the way back in Grindhouse. He talks about returning to direct horror for the first time in a decade, how they show the original trailer during Hostel 2’s production, and what it’s been like working with Quentin Tarantino over the years.

Also this week, we have our review of Thanksgiving, as well as The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes!

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Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 09:16 - Eli Roth Interview | ‘Thanksgiving’
• 41:44 - Review | ‘Thanksgiving’
• 56:05 - Review | ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’
• 1:07:33 - Outro

Venom Reviews & Jake Breaks the First Man Tie

On this week's episode, Sean O'Connell, Kevin McCarthy and Jake Hamilton are finally able to settle their First Man tie -- with Kevin loving it and Sean just liking it. Jake caught the movie during the recent press day at NASA in Florida, but does he side more with Kevin, or fall into Sean's (space) camp. Sean also saw Venom this week, and gives a non-spoiler breakdown of the film, letting you now if it's worth your time this weekend. All this and more, so have fun!

Follow the show on Twitter @ReelBlend.

Play along with next week's game where we will decide our favorite horror movie deaths using #HorrorDeathBlend.

Paul Feig joins the show this week to discuss the making of his new movie Jackpot, starring John Cena and Awkwafina. He shares his thoughts on modern comedy movies, struggling to get comedies into movie theaters, early audience reactions to Bridesmaids, the acting role he ironically gets most recognized for, and more. 

Stick around after the interview for our reactions to Deadpool & Wolverine’s killer box office run, Kevin’s spoiler-filled reactions, and what we think the MCU will look like next.

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Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 11:56 - Paul Feig Interview
• 40:23 - ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Is Crushing It
• 1:17:20 - Outro

Writer/Director Zach Cregger joins the show for a spoiler-filled chat on his horror flick Barbarian, starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long. We discuss the film nearly falling apart just before production began, not having to do much convincing when pitching Justin Long his craziest scenes, the film’s visual influences, a script set in Gotham City that he eventually wants to direct and so much more. Go see this movie, save yourself from the spoilers, and listen to this illuminating chat. 

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M. Night Shyamalan returns to discuss the making of his new film Knock at the Cabin, starring Dave Bautista, Rupert Grint, and Jonathan Groff. We talk about some of the creative reasons behind the film’s striking visuals, casting and working with young actors, whether or not he’s considered connecting his films into one universe, the actor he wants to work with again, and more. 

Stick around after the interview to hear our full, spoiler-free review of Knock at the Cabin as well as our reactions to DC Studios' new direction and slate of films under James Gunn and Peter Safran. 

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro 

00:07:04 - M. Night Shyamalan Interview

00:26:58 - James Gunn’s DC Studios Slate Announced

00:51:29 - Knock at the Cabin Review

01:04:57 - Our Favorite M. Night Shyamalan Movie

01:22:19 - Outro

Writer/director Alexander Payne joins the show to discuss his new movie “The Holdovers,” starring Paul Giamatti. He dives into some early moments of his career, reuniting with Giamatti nearly 20 years after “Sideways,” and more. 

Stick around after the interview for our review of the film, and we finally catch up on some movies and TV we’ve missed throughout the year. 

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Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 11:41 - Interview | Alexander Payne
• 40:33 - Review | ‘The Holdovers’
• 51:44 - Review | David Fincher’s ‘The Killer’
• 1:06:25 - Outro

Horror legend and icon Robert Englund joins us to talk about his role in Stranger Things Season 4, Freddy Krueger, his favorite movie villains, and more. He takes us down the path of Freddy Krueger diving into Hannibal Lecter’s dreams, Stranger Things’ brilliance in blending classic ‘80s film, shooting a scene largely covered in narration, and whether or not Victor Creel will return in Stranger Things Season 4 Part II. 

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• Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Our Favorite Movies of 2019 (So Far) & Spider-Man: Far From Home Reactions

Sean O'Connell, Jake Hamilton and Kevin McCarthy are together again, of course where else, but London. They've been interviewing the Spider-Man: Far From Home cast, and have a TON of stories to share from their time with Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Holland, and Kevin Feige.

We're nearing the halfway point of the year, and so it's time to look back to decide what is topping our list for our favorite movies of 2019 so far. Tweet us your top 5 movies on Twitter @ReelBlend. Play along with next week's game when we debate our favorite works from Danny Boyle in honor of his new film Yesterday, and just his general awesome self. #DannyBoyleBlend

Halloween Kills, the middle chapter of Michael Myers' new trilogy, hits theaters and streaming this weekend. Director David Gordon Green joins the show to talk about working with such a beloved horror franchise, working closely with John Carpenter himself, and how the third film is set to jump forward in time. 

We also preview some of what is expected to drop at DC’s FanDome event this weekend, and what we hope to see. Stick around for our in-depth reviews of The Last Duel (starring Jodie Comer, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon) and Halloween Kills (starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, and Anthony Michael Hall). 

Jake on Forbes! (link)

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ReelBlend Merch

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:03:18 - Weekly Poll 

00:12;21 - David Gordon Green Interview

00:32:20 - Scream Trailer Reactions

00:36:08 - No Time To Die Box Office

00:43:53 - DC FanDome Preview

00:51:32 - The Last Duel Review

01:05:49 - Halloween Kills Review

01:18:45 - Our Favorite Supernatural Movies

01:34:03 - Outro

Director George Tillman Jr. joins the show to discuss his new biopic George Foreman The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World. He gets into the benefits of talking to George Foreman while making the film, his approach to filmmaking, and more. 

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Sean - @Sean_OConnell

Jake - @JakesTakes

Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV

Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Bloodshot Director Talks Vin Diesel & Competing with Marvel & DC

Dave Wilson, the first-time director behind Bloodshot, joins the show to discuss working with Vin Diesel and the big-movie-franchise experience he brought to set, how Valiant Comics and their heroes differ from Marvel and DC and more. Later on in the show, Sean also gives his spoiler-free review of the film hitting theaters this week. 

The effects of COVID-19 have continued worldwide, and the film and entertainment industries are seeing some major changes. Following No Time To Die's push to the fall, we saw SXSW, a major festival for indie filmmakers, get cancelled entirely, and the status of each upcoming release seems to be in question as matters develop. We dive into what we've seen happen so far, and how the industry and consumers may continue to react with the ever-evolving situation. 

In lighter news, we finally have a better understanding of what Disney's latest theme park ride turned movie is all about. In the most recent trailer for Jungle Cruise, we learn more about the story, and tone that Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson will be working with when it hits theaters later this year. We give our thoughts, and expectations with where it stands at the moment. 

As always, we take a look back at some of our favorite films. This time, we dive into our favorite original songs written for a motion picture with #SongBlend. You can play along with next week's BlendGame by using #Underrated90sBlend on Twitter, and letting us know your FAVORITE movie from the 1990s that you think doesn't get enough love. 

This Week In Movies

• Never Rarely Sometimes Always (limited)
• The Roads Not Taken (limited; Javier Bardem, Elle Fanning, Salma Hayek)
• I Still Believe (Britt Robertson, K.J. Apa)
• The Hunt (Betty Gilpin, Hillary Swank, Ike Barinholtz)
• Bloodshot  (Vin Diesel, Eiza González, Sam Heughan)

7:24 -> Weekly Poll: Which film would you move up to Bond 25's spot?
11:48 -> Dave Wilson Interview
39:29 -> News: COVID-19, Jungle Cruise Trailer
1:02:45 -> This Week In Movies
1:05:31 -> Bloodshot Review
1:10:45 -> #SongBlend

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Director Jon M. Chu joins us to discuss his hit musical "Wicked," starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. He chats about editing "Wicked: Part Two," the incredible attention to detail in Cynthia Erivo's iconic hat, putting together Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth's surprise cameos, getting feedback from Steven Spielberg, and more. 

You can see Wicked in theaters now.

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Director Gina Prince-Bythewood and producer Cathy Schulman join the show to discuss their new film The Woman King, starring Viola Davis, John Boyega, Thuso Mbedu, and Lashana Lynch. Gina walks us through prepping for some of the film’s most incredible action scenes, working once more with the legend Terence Blanchard, how action can inform character, and much more. 

We’ll be back next week with more interviews so stay tuned! 

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On this week's show, we are joined by Composer Michael Giacchino discuss his original album Travelogue Volume 1. 

Also this week, we talk Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’s Oscar chances, Anne Hathaway’s The Witches, the latest Tom Holland Spidey News and Oscar Issac in talks to play Moon Knight. 

This Week In movies:

The Craft: Legacy (VOD, Oct 28)

Holidate (Netflix, Oct. 28)

Come Play (Oct. 30)

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Timestamps (approx. only)

4:15 - Weekly Poll: Should MGM sell Daniel Craig's NO TIME TO DIE to a streaming service?

14:45 - Michael Giacchino Interview

51:43 - Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

1:00:52 - The Witches

1:11:42 - Spider-Man 3

1:19:01 - Moon Knight

1:27:48 - This Week In Movies

1:30:28 - #HalloweenMovieBlend

1:45:24 - Listener Review/Outro

The Netflix vs Spielberg Debate & An Exciting Announcement

Sean O'Connell, Kevin McCarthy and Jake Hamilton are back with some exciting news regarding the show, and hot debate between Steven Spielberg, the Academy and streaming giants like Netflix. We also discuss this week's major releases, and declare our favorite works from Emmanuel Lubezki. #ChivoBlend

Blenders! On Saturday April 13th, the ReelBlend guys (Producer Gabe included) will be getting together in Chicago, and want to meet up with all of you lovely folks. More information will be coming soon so stay tuned, but if you plan on coming, give us a shout out on social @ReelBlend.

Play along with next week's game when we decide or favorite shots of ALL TIME (impossible). #ShotBlend

Paul Bettany and writer/director Alan Ball join the show to discuss their new film Uncle Frank streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Paul Bettany talks about actors not needing chemistry, shooting WandaVision in front of a live studio audience and more. Alan Ball also recalls the night he was an Oscar.

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Director Renny Harlin joins us for a chat about the making of his new film The Strangers: Chapter 1, the first of 3 chapters he shot simultaneously. But that of course is not all. The director has a long history in Hollywood, and we run through some of his notable projects such as Die Hard 2, his Exorcist sequel, and more. 

Next week, we welcome George Miller to the program for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, so be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!  

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro 

00:04:13 - Are smaller films reclaiming the box office?

00:19:07 - ‘Challengers’ Review (Spoiler-Free)

00:29:56 - ‘Challengers’ SPOILERS!

00:38:23 - ‘Deadpool & Wolverine” Trailer Reactions

00:51:50 - Game: Lost In Translation

01:00:15 - Outro

The legend himself Guillermo del Toro joins ReelBlend to talk about his new Netflix film Pinocchio. We talk about the stop-motion animation process, his decades-long friendship with James Cameron, and even some of the incredible work he did on Pacific Rim. 

This week has a number of releases hitting theaters and streaming, so stay tuned through our interview for our reviews! 

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• Sean - @Sean_OConnell 
• Jake - @JakesTakes
• Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV
• Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro 

00:03:27 - Guillermo del Toro Talks Pinocchio, James Cameron and More

00:42:08 - Spoiler Alert Review

00:46:47 - Empire of Light Review

00:50:00 - Emancipation Review

00:57:25 - Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Review

01:06:06 - Our Favorite Ewan McGregor Movie

01:20:37 - Outro

The Conjuring franchise’s 8th installment, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson) hits theaters and HBO Max this week, and director Michael Chaves took time to sit down and discuss his process in taking over the core of the franchise from James Wan. 

We also discuss the triumphant return of the movies with A Quiet Place Part II’s massive opening weekend, AMC’s potential acquisition of ArcLight Cinemas and more. 

This week’s BlendGame celebrates the Summer season with our favorite films which evoke Summer. Next week, we’re taking a look at the career of Elliot Page, and debated which of their performances is our absolute favorite. Play along on Twitter by sending in your pick using #ElliotPageBlend. 

This Week In Movies

- Samaritan

- Spirit Untamed

- The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It 

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Timestamps (approx. only)

5:00 - Weekly Poll

6:39 - Michael Chaves Interview

28:54 - Box Office Roundup

42:14 - A Quiet Place Part II Refresh Review

52:14 - CinemaCon Returns 

55:55 - AMC Acquiring ArcLight Cinemas?

1:04: 57 - This Week In Movies

1:17:52 - Our Favorite Summer Movies

1:28:45 - Outro

Dune’s Oscar-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser returns to the show with Oscar-winning editor Joe Walker to discuss the making of Dune: Part Two and their collaborations with Denis Villeneuve. We get details on shooting Feyd-Rautha’s introduction on Giedi Prime with infrared lighting, cutting Paul Atreides and Feyd’s final fight, and more. 

Stay tuned. We have more interviews on the making of “Dune: Part Two” coming! 

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Dwayne Johnson’s "Black Adam" is finally here. After over a decade of delays and development hell, DC’s antihero is hitting the big screen so has it been worth the wait? We give our reviews later in the show and stick around for our spoiler section where talk about [REDACTED] cameo in the post-credits scene. 

Also this week, writer and director Michael Dougherty joins us for an extremely special occasion. His cult classic horror flick "Trick ‘r Treat" is celebrating 15 years with its first-ever theatrical release. We talk about the impact of the film, why it didn’t initially get a theatrical run, the film’s adoring fans and we even get the "X-Men 2" writer’s opinion on how Marvel should introduce mutants into the MCU timeline. 

That interview was made possible by AMC Theatre’s “AMC Thrills & Chills” program. 

"Trick ‘r Treat" Tickets: https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/trick-r-treat-71154/showtimes

More info on “AMC Thrills & Chills”: https://www.amctheatres.com/thrills-and-chills

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:04:58 - Michael Dougherty Trick 'r Treat Interview 

00:43:28 - DC Movies Shake Ups 

00:57:32 - "She-Hulk" Review & MCU Ranking

01:13:28 - "The Banshees of Inisherin" Review

01:20:10 - "Raymond & Ray" Review

01:22:09 - "Ticket to Paradise" Review

01:30:22 -  "Black Adam" Review

01:37:18 - "Black Adam" Spoilers! 

01:47:23 - Our Favorite Found Footage Movie

02:00:31 - Outro

Director Kevin Macdonald joins the show to discuss his new film The Mauritanian starring Jodie Foster, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tahar Rahim. He shares some incite on the process of adapting Mohamedou Ould Slahi’s harrowing story of his imprisonment at Guantanamo Bay.

The Critcs’ Choice Awards and the Golden Globes have released their lists of nominees. We dive into some of the surprises and stubs, and larger picture for where the race to the Oscars stands. Stick around to hear our predictions for Oscar nominations as of February 10th. 

This week’s BlendGame focuses on our favorites from one of the all-time greats, Morgan Freeman. Next week, we’ll be celebrating the work from Academy Award winner Halle Berry. Use #HalleBerryBlend on Twitter to let us know your favorite performance of hers! 

This Week In Movies 

- Fear of Rain

- Music

- To All the Boys: Always and Forever

- French Exit

- Minari

- Judas and the Black Messiah

- Land

- The Mauritanian

- Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

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ReelBlend Merch

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Timestamps (approx. only)

4:06 - Remembering Christopher Plummer

8:18 - Kevin Macdonald Interview

36:24 - Weekly Poll

37:01 - Golden Globes & Critics’ Choice Awards

54:33 - Oscar Predictions

1:14:53 - This Week In Movies

1:29:51 - Favorite Morgan Freeman

1:39:10 - Outro/Review

Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock, and Bryan Tyree Henry are just a few members of the stacked cast in Sony Pictures’ Bullet Train. Director David Leitch and producer Kelly McCormick join us to discuss the making of, casting Brad Pitt, adapting a novel, Atomic Blonde’s anniversary and more.

Stick around for our reviews of the film, as well as our thoughts in Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator prequel Prey which hits Hulu this weekend.

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• Sean - @Sean_OConnell 
• Jake - @JakesTakes
• Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV
• Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Timestamps (approx. only)

00:07:42 - David Leitch & Kelly McCormick Interview (Bullet Train)

00:50:01 - Star Wars’ Andor Trailer Reactions

01:06:32 - Jo Koy’s Easter Sunday Review

01:16:16 - Prey Review

01:35:10 - Bullet Train Review

01:45:57 - Our Favorite Sandra Bullock Movies

01:55:49 - Outro 

The Way Back Director On Ben Affleck's Return & The Most Emotional Days On Set

Director Gavin O'Connor has a staggering filmography that includes Miracle, Warrior and The Account, and on this week's show he joined us to discuss his latest project The Way Back (starring Ben Affleck). We touch on some awesome behind-the-scenes moments from Miracle during the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, his approach to this project as a drama first and a sports movie second, working with Ben on the film while he was in rehab, their concerns with filming some of the scenes so closely to leaving rehab, and more. 

Also on this week's show, we honor James Lipton's life and career following his recent passing. He remains a major influence on Jake, Sean and Kevin as lovers of film, and film journalists. Given the recent developments regarding COVID-19, we look at how the spread of, and concern regarding the virus may continue to effect the film industry. DISCLAIMER: We recorded this episode before No Time To Die was officially delayed until the fall. 

For the BlendGame this week, in honor of The Way Back's release, we take a look back at Ben Affleck's career with #BenAffleckBlend. His is a unique one as we have to consider his great work as an actor, writer and director. It makes for a very fun conversation. Next week, we're diving into the wonderful world of movie music. What is your favorite original song made for a motion picture? Let us know on social using #SongBlend, and we may just read it out on the show. 

The Week In Movies

• The Banker (limited; starring Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie)
• The Burnt Orange Heresy (limited; starring Elizabeth Debicki, Donald Sutherland, Mick Jagger)
• First Cow (limited; starring John Magaro, Orion Lee, Toby Jones)
• EMMA. (expanding wide; starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Bill Nighy)
• Onward (starring Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Julia Louis-Dreyfus)
• The Way Back (starring Ben Affleck, Janina Gavankar, Michaela Watkins)

6:03 - Weekly Poll: Which March release are you most excited for?
11:51 - Gavin O'Connor Interview
47:09 - Remembering James Lipton
1:03:30 - COVID-19 and the Film Industry
1:16:12 - This Week In Movies
1:25:26 - #BenAffleckBlend

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Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV
Gabe - @gabeKovacs

The director of ‘Dumb Money,’ Craig Gillespie, joins the show to tell the true story of a fringe group taking on Wall street by backing GameStop. He tells us stories about the stellar cast that includes Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Shailene Woodley, Pete Davidson and much, much more. 

Also, Sean is back from TIFF, and boy oh boy was this a weird year. The boys discuss Nicolas Cage’s offering ‘Dream Scenario,’ and how the A24 role is the iconic actor at his wildest. Not to mention, Chris Pine and Anna Kendrick screened their directorial debuts. Find out which one was brilliant, and which one was terrible.

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Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV

Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00 - Intro.

06:11 - ‘Dumb Money’ Review and Reaction

10:45 - Craig Gillespie ‘Dumb Money’ Interview

33:00 - ’A Haunting In Venice’ Review

44:20 - Sean’s TIFF 2023 Debrief

1:24:28 - What TIFF Movie Are you Most Excited For/Why Do You Think People Hate Nickelback?

The Russo Brothers Talk Extraction, Marvel, Chris Hemsworth & More

Returning to the ReelBlend podcast for another amazing interview are writer/directors Joe and Anthony Russo! They're here to discuss a film they produced called Extraction (now streaming on Netflix), starring their old pal Chris Hemsworth. We also dive into their work at Marvel, their opinions on the current state of movie theaters and what comes next. 

It's also a big news week with the Texas Governor allowing for theaters to start opening at a limited capacity starting as soon as this week. We discuss they obvious reasons as to why that might not be a good idea, but also that without any films to show, being allowed to open doesn't really change much of the outlook for theater owners. 

There's also news of Judd Apatow's The King of Staten Island, starring Pete Davidson, now heading straight for VOD. It was also announced that Seth Rogan has a new movie headed to HBO Max next month called An American Pickle where an immigrant worker (Rogan) is accidentally brined and preserved, quite like a pickle, for 100 years, and returns in present day New York un-aged. 

This week's BlendGame is in honor of the thing we all miss most, going to an actual movie theater. With #TheaterExperienceBlend, the guys each give their favorite memories and experiences while in a movie theater. Next week, we look back at last decade and try to determine our favorite films that didn't get enough love with #Underrated2010sBlend. 

ReelBlend at the Movies T-Shirt!

The Blenders have been asking for merch, and we wanted to take that opportunity to provide away for us as a community to give back. We are launching a limited-time design which celebrates filmmaking and theater-going with all proceeds going to the Will Rogers Pioneers Assistance Fund to help film industry workers in need. 

Buy your shirt here: bonfire.com/reelblend-at-the-movies
Learn more here: https://wrpioneers.org/

7:42 - Weekly Poll: If you could only save one, which John Carpenter classic would it be?
18:20 - Joe & Anthony Russo Interview
44:05 - News: Texas Theaters, New VOD Announcements, YouTube International Film Festival and More
1:08:18 - This Week In Movies (er...Streaming)
1:28:25 - #TheaterExperienceBlend

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We are honored to welcome Joaquin Phoenix back to the show! His new film "Napoleon" (directed by Ridley Scott) is in theaters now and sat down with us at the junket in Paris to dive into his preparation and creative decisions that went into playing the historical figure. He shares some wonderful stories of working with Ridley Scott on “Gladiator,” why he thinks it took so long to get the call to work with Ridley again, and how Napoleon’s hat was like his best friend. 

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Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 6:25 - Joaquin Phoenix Interview
• 25:54 - Behind the Scenes of the ‘Napoleon’ Junket
• 31:47 - Outro

Buster Scruggs, The Lion King & Our Favorite Stallone Movies

In our 46th episode of ReelBlend, Sean O'Connell, Jake Hamilton and Kevin McCarthy breakdown the new trailer The Lion King, debate if we should even be calling it "live-action", react to The Coen Brothers' latest, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and serendipitously discuss their favorite Sylvester Stallone movies. #StalloneBlend The National Board of Review dropped their winners of 2018, so they also discuss that list, and how it might affect the awards race going forward.

Follow the show on Twitter @ReelBlend

You can play along with next week's game when the guys will discuss their favorite work (directing or acting) from Clint Eastwood. #EastwoodBlend

Director Tim Story joins the show to discuss his latest, Tom and Jerry. He gets into his love for the source material, how they developed Tom’s “traps” for the movie, building the sound design from the Hanna-Barbera archives and we even get to his take on one of his Fantastic Four characters making the jump to the MCU. 

Also on this week’s show, Spider-Man 3’s title, Spider-Man: No Way Home, has finally been revealed after a shaky social media announcement. Sean was able to see a couple scenes from Disney+’s upcoming Falcon and Winter Soldier series, and discuss the future of Marvel television with Kevin Feige. 

We take a look at Halle Berry’s filmography for #HalleBerryBlend. Next week, we’re diving into Wesley Snipes work to figure out our absolute favorites. Send in your pick using #WesleySnipesBlend on Twitter. 

 This Week In Movies

- Bigfoot Family (Netflix)

- Tom and Jerry (Theaters & HBO Max)

- The Father (Limited)

- Cherry (Limited)

- The United States Vs. Billie Holiday

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ReelBlend Merch

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Timestamps (approx. only)

2:21 - Weekly Poll: Favorite Video Game Movie

7:40 - Tim Story Interview

39:09 - Spider-Man: No Way Home Reveal

49:48 - The Future of Marvel TV

57:54 - David Fincher’s Next Film

1:05:20 - This Week In Movies

1:19:56 - Favorite Halle Berry Movies

1:33:42 - Review/Outro

Josh Lucas stars in the new Purge installment, The Forever Purge, from director Everardo Gout, and he joins the show for an incredible discussion on making the film. Not only that, but we cover some moments throughout his decade-spanning career, the directors and cinematographers he’s chased after, the few he has left on his list, and a great story about turning down Martin Scorsese. 

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Gabe - @gabeKovacs

ReelBlend Merch

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The creative minds behind Don’t Breathe 2, Fede Álvarez and Rodo Sayagues, sat down with us for dive into their process of creating a horror sequel that falls outside of the traditional approach filmgoers may have come to expect. We discuss the now iconic, but ever disturbing “turkey baster” moment from the original, why horror must continue to push its audience further and more. 

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ReelBlend Merch

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Tye Sheridan Talks Dark Phoenix, Ready Player One & Working with Sophie Turner

This week, we are thrilled to welcome the talented, and extremely kind Tye Sheridan onto the show. Sean, Jake and Kevin sat down with Tye while attending the junket for "Dark Phoenix", and he was an absolute delight. He discussed working with fellow cast members like Sophie Turner, what it's like to hang out with Spielberg all day, and bringing the Fox X-Men franchise to an apparent close.

We also get into our usual shenanigans including "Godzilla: King of the Monsters's" less-than-stellar box office, the new trailer for James Mangold's "Ford v Ferrari" starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, and of course run through the movies of the week.

For this week's BlendGame, we dove into the incredibly broad and impossible task of naming our favorite Science-Fiction movies of all-time #SciFiBlend. Next week, join us on Twitter in celebrating to career of Ron Howard by sending in your favorite work from his filmography using #RonHowardBlend.

Find the show on Twitter, @ReelBlend.

Tom Cruise’s "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1" has not lived up to box office expectations the franchise has set, but the audience that has gone out to see it has responded very well. Given the lackluster performance, and the overall lack of conversation surrounding the film, would we consider the $290M budgeted film a failure? There are external factors to consider such as the competitive summer release calendar. Both Greta Gerwig’s "Barbie" and Christopher Nolan’s "Oppenheimer" followed up the latest "Mission" with a one-two punch we may never see again in the cultural phenomenon that was “Barbenheimer.” But the film itself could also be criticized for not drumming up hype all on its own. Give our conversation on this central question a listen and head to the YouTube comments to let us know where you fall on the debate. 

Stick around though, as this week’s episode also includes our review of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem," an interview with Marvel’s "Secret Invasion" director Ali Selim, and more. 

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Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV

Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:10:06 - Is Dead Reckoning Part 1 A Failure?

00:37:23 - ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayem’ Review

00:47:52 - ‘Secret Invasion’ Director Ali Selim Interview

01:08:38 - ‘Secret Invasion’ Review & MCU Tier List Ranking

01:22:44 - Outro

Ant-Man and the Wasp (Spoiler-Free) & Tim Burton's Best Film

Marvel Studios is back in theaters this week, cleansing the palette after the epicness that was Avengers: Infinity War. Aiming for a different tone, Ant-Man and the Wasp delivers laughs and action, with smaller stakes. That requires a gigantic and spoiler-free chat about Peyton Reed's new film, and Sean O'Connell, Jake Hamilton and Kevin McCarthy are the perfect people to bring that to you.

Since it's the middle point of the year, the ReelBlend guys also take this moment to list their Top 3 movies of the year so far. We can tell you this much. Avengers: Infinity War lands on all three of their lists. But their choices, after that, are wildly different. And to round this week's show off, they debate Tim Burton's best film with #BurtonBlend.

Let us know your pick on twitter using #BurtonBlend, and play along with next week's show when we'll decide the best film about or set in Paris, France with #ParisBlend.

Follow the show on Twitter @ReelBlend

Sony's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a groundbreaking achievement on a number of levels, and that includes the incredible and unique approach Daniel Pemberton and the team takes to weave the film's score throughout. We sat down with the composer to discuss his approach, what it's been like working on this film for the past 5 years, and what we might expect from the final chapter of the trilogy next year. 

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Writer/Director Johannes Roberts stopped by ReelBlend to chat about his new film Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, starring Kaya Scodelario and Robbie Amell. His passion and love for the source material are not only apparent in the film itself but throughout this interview. We discuss the access he had to the actual building and set designs of the original game, pushing to bring as much from the source material into the film, working through tough conditions during production, and more. 

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ReelBlend Merch

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What should you watch this summer season? This week, we run through some of the major movie releases hitting theaters, and discuss which have us intrigued, which we remain cautiously optimistic about, and which we are the most excited about. It’s looking to be an impressive year! Both M. Night Shyamalan and daughter Ishana Shyamalan have films headed to theaters, Fede Álvarez appears to be returning a beloved franchise to its roots with “Alien: Romulus,” and “Twisters”…enough said. 

Which film are you most excited about this summer? Head to the YouTube comments and let us know!

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Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV

Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 6:04 - Summer Movie Preview
• 46:06 - Oscars In Review: Would We Still Give Joaquin The Win For Joker?
• 55:29 - ‘Monkey Man’ Reactions
• 57:23 - Outro

We are so excited to welcome Alison Schapker, showrunner of HBO's new series "Dune: Prophecy," to the show to discuss bringing the 'Dune' to TV. We chat about some of the season's central mysteries that are beginning to unfold following the premiere episode, capturing the same visual styling of Denis Villeneuve's cinematic universe, putting their own stamp on the music of the "Dune" world and more. 

Alison Schapker also shares her incredible origin story in the entertainment industry, detailing the decades of experience that have led to her running HBO's new hit sci-fi series and how she coordinates the storytelling of full season with the series' three directors.

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• ReelBlend - @ReelBlend
• Sean - @Sean_OConnell
• Jake - @JakesTakes
• Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV
• Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Where the Crawdads Sing director Olivia Newman joins the show this week to walk us through some of the tough conditions they were working in to bring the acclaimed novel to the big screen. We discuss the importance of the film’s setting, shooting on location which came with intense delays due to weather, casting for the film’s central romantic dynamic, working with David Strathairn, the incredible work on display from cinematographer Polly Morgan, Taylor Swift’s original song and more. 

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John Wick Director Chad Stahelski Talks Chapter 3 & The Matrix 20 Years Later

This week, Sean O'Connell, Jake Hamilton and Kevin McCarthy bring the usual bag of news, movies of the week, and an awesome BlendGame. However, we also have an amazing, exclusive interview with John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum director Chad Stahelski. He gets into all the intricate details necessary when directing actions scenes with dogs, the commitment of his actors, Keanu Reeves and Halley Barry, and we all take a moment to reflect on The Matrix now 20 years later, the film he began to make a name for himself as stunt coordinator and performer.

Next week, we are looking at the films of Guy Ritchie in honor of his new film, Disney's live-action remake of Aladin. #GuyRitchieBlend

Tom Hank's Best Performance & Sean's Unpopular Lord of the Rings Opinion

Tom Hanks is an American treasure. Tom Hanks is a two-time Academy Award winner for Best Actor. Tom Hanks is freaking Woody, from the beloved Toy Story franchise! But what is Tom Hanks' BEST performance? This is the challenge laid down before the co-hosts of ReelBlend -- Sean O'Connell, Kevin McCarthy and Jake Hamilton. Which Hanks movie did they choose? On this week's episode, the guys also discuss Ready Player One's opening weekend box office, the news that Colin Trevorrow has been hired for Jurassic World 3, and the request by the Russo Brothers for Marvel fans to maintain spoiler silence on social media for Avengers: Infinity War.

After, the boys introduce a new segment that likely will become a recurring deal: Unpopular Opinions. For those unaware, Jake, Kevin and Sean maintain a text chain where they're constantly talking in between podcast episodes. In that chain, the guys often state something that the other two wildly disagree with. So, we're bringing it to the show. Last week, it was a debate about the power of Netflix over a theatrical release model. This week, Sean admits that he hates the Lord of the Rings trilogy. You have to hear it.

Interviewing Tom Cruise in Paris & Ant-Man and the Wasp Spoilers (Guest Host Chris Van Vliet!)

Sean O'Connell and Jake Hamilton were without a key member of their ReelBlend family, as Kevin McCarthy was on a cruise -- but not a TOM Cruise -- this week. So our old friend and talented colleague Chris Van Vliet of Deco Drive in Miami filled in on the third chair, and was a fantastic contributor. The guys discussed the casting of Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker, the return of Billy Dee Williams to the Star Wars universe, Ant-Man and the Wasp Spoilers, and their interviews with Tom Cruise...in Paris!

Follow the show on Twitter @ReelBlend

Subscribe to Chris' YouTube channel here!

SFX by Framing_Noise

This episode really needs no introduction. Christopher Nolan and Tenet star John David Washington joins us to discuss behind-the-scenes stories from making the film. They get into how they pulled some of the film's mind-bending aspects off, and how they each prepared and changed during the making of the film.

We also take time to honor Chadwick Boseman who tragically passed over the weekend. We discuss the legacy and impact he's left behind, and how important his filmography has become. Join us in continuing to celebrate his life and career by using #ChadwickBosemanBlend to let us know your favorite performance from his filmography.

Also this week, we dive into spoilers for Tenet. Don't worry. We give plenty of warning before we get into it.

This Week In Movies

• Mulan (Disney+ plus fee)
• Tenet (limited theatrical)

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Filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier joins the show to discuss the making of his new Netflix film “Rebel Ridge,” starring Aaron Pierre, AnnaSophia Robb and Don Johnson. After the interview, Sean gives his thoughts on “Rebel Ridge,” Jake reviews Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and we play a “Beetlejuice” edition of the IMDb game. 

What are you seeing this weekend? Whether you’re making it out to the theater for the “Beetlejuice” sequel, staying in to stream “Rebel Ridge” or both, let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

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• Jake - @JakesTakes
• Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV
• Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 06:28 - Jeremy Saulnier Interview
• 24:29 - ‘Rebel Ridge’ Review
• 31:42 - ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Review
• 41:52 - IMDb Game: ‘Beetlejuice’ Edition
• 1:03:37 - Outro

Our Favorite Movies of 2019

It's the end of another amazing year in movies, and the guys are here to breakdown their 10 favorite films of 2019 for you all. Enjoy!

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Gabe - @gabeKovacs

This weekend, moviegoers return to the world of Pandora after more than a decade since the original, record-setting “Avatar” was released. Our review of “Avatar: The Way Of Water” is spoiler free, but feel free to stick around for our spoiler-filled section if you managed to make it out to a theater and see it. 

Also on this week’s show, we react to the official nominees for the Golden Globes which mark our first look at where the Awards season is headed. 

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Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro 

00:03:34 - Golden Globe Nominations Reaction

00:27:51 - ‘Bardo: False Chronicle Of A Handful Of Truths’ Review

00:34:56 - More Awards Season Talk 

00:38:20 - ‘Avatar: The Way Of Water’ Review

00:54:17 - Spoiler Talk: ‘Avatar: The Way Of Water’

01:02:03 - Our Favorite James Cameron Movie

Glass Reviews, Critics Choice Stories & Keanu Reeves

This past week, Sean O'Connell, Jake Hamilton and Kevin McCarthy attended the Critics' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, and have brought back a ton of fun stories including running into a couple ReelBlend past and future guests. But before we get down to it, there's news. Jason Reitman has signed on to direct a new Ghostbusters movie, Christopher McQuarrie is teaming up with Tom Cruise again for not one but two more Mission: Impossible films, the Academy Awards have decided to move forward without a host at all following the resent controversy with Kevin Hart, and we finally have a Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer to dig in to.

This week on social media, many of you awesome Blenders have been debating collecting movies via digital versus physical copies, and we decided we need to weigh in. If that wasn't enough show for you, you're in luck. We also have spoiler-free reviews of Glass, and a discussion of our favorite Keanu Reeves films/performances. #KeanuBlend.

Follow the show on Twitter @ReelBlend

You can play along with next week's show using #SamJacksonBlend where will discuss our favorite roles/movies of the great Samuel L. Jackson.

It’s Indiana Jones week on ReelBlend! We take some time to look back at the entire franchise and create our official tier list ranking of each film. How would you grade our list? What does your list look like? Send in your list or drop it in the YouTube comments. 

With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny hitting theaters this weekend, we also have to dive into our full, spoiler-free reviews of the film. Stick around to find out where it ends up on our official tier list, but it’s safe to say you should head out to your local theater to see this one. 

Also this week, director Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise is now available at home so he stopped by the ReelBlend offices (Zoom) to share some of his experiences from making the film, and even gave us a look at an actual hero prop from the film he is keeping safe in his collection. You’ll want to head over to the YouTube feed to see this one for yourself. 

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Jake - @JakesTakes

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Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:04:38 - Director Lee Cronin Talks ‘Evil Dead Rise’

00:37:04 - Indiana Jones Tier List

01:09:16 - ‘Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny’ Review

01:19:20 - Outro

Avengers: Infinity War Set Visit & A Wrinkle In Time Reactions

It's a brand new day! The AwardsBlend podcast has undergone a change, and what once focused mainly on the Oscar race has expanded its scope. Welcome to ReelBlend! As Kevin McCarthy puts it on social media, "New show name. New logo. Same nerds." Those nerds are Kevin McCarthy, Jake Hamilton, and Sean O'Connell. And in this week's podcast, the trio starts off with a run through the top news stories of the day. Sean is finally able to start talking about his visit to the Avengers: Infinity War set, so Jake and Kevin pepper him with questions.

For the final segment of the ReelBlend podcast, Sean, Kevin and Jake bring back the fan-favorite #Blend segment, where they choose a filmmaker ahead of time, then debate the BEST film from that director. This week, the discussion swirled around the films of Stanley Kubrick. And as is always the case, we opened the conversation up to our listeners, who used the hashtag #KubrickBlend to share their picks for best Kubrick. The answers surprised us. They might surprise you!

Paul Greengrass (you read that right) joins the show! His work spans from the Bourne series to United 93 to Captain Phillips to his latest News of the World, a Western starring Tom Hanks. We discuss the story that drives News of the World, the incredible work from Tom Hanks which he thinks makes for his best performance yet, getting snubbed at the Oscars and more.

In standard ReelBlend luck, Disney announced a massive slate from across their tentpole brands towards the end of last week. We get into some of our most notable announcements, and how Disney's strategy fares compared to Warner Bros full streaming commitment.

This week's BlendGame proved to be a fun one. We asked you which film do wish you could go back in time and experience with a crowd during its opening weekend, and you didn't disappoint. Next week, we are celebrating Chris Pine's work with #ChrisPineBlend. Send in your favorite Chris Pine performance or film on Twitter using the hashtag, and we might read it out on the show.

This Week In Movies

• Monster Hunter
• Fatale
• Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

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ReelBlend Merch

We have all kinds of fun merch for dedicated Blenders to flaunt their fandom with pride. (cinemablend.com/shop)

Timestamps (approx. only)

4:25 - Weekly Poll

12:39 - Paul Greengrass Interview

35:38 - Disney's Slate Announcement

52:09 - R-Rated Justice League

1:00:59 - This Week In Movies

1:12:07 - #OriginalReleaseBlend

1:26:53 - Outro

We are back with another classic ReelBlend interview redux! This time, we’re revisiting our first-ever interview with Quentin Tarantino. Recorded in July of 2019, we were joined by Quentin at the press junket for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood which today is celebrating its 5th anniversary. 

In this 20-minute chat, we discuss his lost feature film team-up with the Vega brothers, what it was like to direct “Bruce Lee” in Hollywood, and whether or not “Kill Bill” is one movie or more. 

• Quentin Tarantino Vol 2: https://youtu.be/2-2TeVe5e1U
• Quentin Tarantino Vol 3 - LIVE at The New Beverly: https://youtu.be/SPoguRxwT6A
• Quentin Tarantino Vol 4: https://youtu.be/NfFwPkHuhV8

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Follow The Show

• ReelBlend - @ReelBlend
• Sean - @Sean_OConnell
• Jake - @JakesTakes
• Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV
• Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Spider-Man: Far From Home Director Jon Watts Talks Casting Jake Gyllenhaal & More

Sean, Kevin and Jake are back from another adventure abroad, and have caught up on a few films the missed while they were gone. Tune in for their reviews of Yesterday (Starring Himesh Patel, Lily James and Ed Sheeran), spoiler takes on Toy Story 4, and more.

Most importantly though, this week we share the spoiler-free section of their interview with Spider-Man: Far From Home director Jon Watts. He shares a hilarious story of pitching the role of Mysterio to Jake Gyllenhaal over dinner, what's it was like to know Endgame spoilers before anyone else, Tony Stark and Peter Parker's relationship, and more.

This week we dove into our favorite films from the wonderful Danny Boyle, but you can play along with next week's game where we'll debate our favorite films of Kurt Russell. Head over to Twitter, and let us know using #KurtRussellBlend.

Director Scott Derrickson has found great success following his departure from the helm of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness with his latest film The Black Phone starring Ethan Hawke. In our interview, he discussed making the decision to step away from a Marvel movie, his favorite book adaptations, the Stephen King story he’d like to adapt himself, and more. 

Also this week, Sean pays tribute to Better Call Saul’s impressive run following its final episodes. Marvel’s She-Hulk series has finally hit Disney+ this week, and we give our thoughts through the first four episodes. And finally, Idris Elba is back in theaters with Beast! Stick around to hear our spoiler-free reviews. 

ReelBlend Premium

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ReelBlend on YouTube

Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. 

Follow The Show

• ReelBlend - @ReelBlend
• Sean - @Sean_OConnell 
• Jake - @JakesTakes
• Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV
• Gabe - @gabeKovacs

Timestamps (approx. only)

00:08:57 - Scott Derrickson Interview

00:26:14 - Better Call Saul Finale Reaction

00:30:55 - She-Hulk Review

00:44:42 - This Week In Movies

00:45:25 - Beast Review

00:58:31 - Our Favorite Alison Brie Performance

01:06:55 - Outro