Most commented posts
- Episode 1 – Casablanca — 8 comments
- Episode 5 – The Road Warrior — 3 comments
- Episode 10 – The Abominable Dr. Phibes — 3 comments
- Episode 32 – The Dirty Dozen — 2 comments
- Episode 6 – The 7th Voyage of Sinbad — 2 comments
Nov 15 2014
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We talked about this movie as far back as Episode 1 and it is finally here! Jena gets shown one of the great classic noir films that she had, until this point, only known about through an episode of the Animanianiacs. We talk about Humphrey Bogart, Sidney Greenstreet, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, maguffins and one of the most famous movie props of all time. Enjoy our conversation about The Maltese Falcon!
Our next episode will be recorded live at the Trylon Theater on Sunday, November 30th. We’ll be watching Planes, Trains and Automobiles!
The Maltese Falcon (1941) | |
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Rating: 8.0/10 (165,784 votes) Director: John Huston Writer: John Huston, Dashiell Hammett Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George Runtime: 100 min Rated: Passed Genre: Crime, Film-Noir, Mystery Released: 18 Oct 1941 |
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Plot: San Francisco private detective Sam Spade takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar and their quest for a priceless statuette, with the stakes rising after his partner is murdered. |
Nov 01 2014
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In our last episode, we watched a documentary. This episode, we watched a mockumentary! We showed Jena a film by a group of gifted comedians who have sort of mastered the genre. A Mighty Wind is a fabulously funny film about folk music. Created by Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy, it has a smart approach to the topic and even manages to be poignant every now and again. It’s one of Tim’s favorite movies. We hope it will be one of yours as well!
Our next episode will be about The Maltese Falcon!
A Mighty Wind (2003) | |
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Rating: 7.2/10 (29,345 votes) Director: Christopher Guest Writer: Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy Stars: Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Michael McKean Runtime: 91 min Rated: PG-13 Genre: Comedy, Music Released: 09 May 2003 |
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Plot: Mockumentary captures the reunion of 1960s folk trio the Folksmen as they prepare for a show at The Town Hall to memorialize a recently deceased concert promoter. |
Oct 15 2014
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For this episode, we took a look at a genre that has, as yet been untouched by our podcast – the documentary! We chose the 2009 Oscar winner, Man on Wire. The movie tells the story of one amazing stunt and at the same time, it tells the story of two buildings. We talk about this film as well as the genre of documentaries in general. The film is streaming on Netflix so we highly recommend checking it out.
Our next episode will be about A Mighty Wind!
Man on Wire (2008) | |
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Rating: 7.7/10 (58,387 votes) Director: James Marsh Writer: Philippe Petit Stars: Philippe Petit, Jean François Heckel, Jean-Louis Blondeau Runtime: 94 min Rated: PG-13 Genre: Documentary, Biography, Crime Released: 29 Aug 2008 |
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Plot: A look at tightrope walker Philippe Petit's daring, but illegal, high-wire routine performed between New York City's World Trade Center's twin towers in 1974, what some consider, "the artistic crime of the century". |
Oct 01 2014
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Jena had a last minute conflict so we were forced to enlist an emergency stunt Jena. Fortunately, Tim’s wife Pat was available. We had to make an alteration in movie (Pat has seen Man on Wire) so we pulled out The Dirty Dozen! This classic example of a mission movie involves a great cast trying to save the world from the Nazis. Because that’s what heroes do. They save the world from the Nazis.
Our next movie will, we promise, be Man on Wire!
The Dirty Dozen (1967) | |
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Rating: 7.7/10 (78,864 votes) Director: Robert Aldrich Writer: Nunnally Johnson, Lukas Heller, E.M. Nathanson Stars: Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson Runtime: 150 min Rated: Approved Genre: Action, Adventure, War Released: 22 Oct 1967 |
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Plot: During World War II, a rebellious U.S. Army Major is assigned a dozen convicted murderers to train and lead them into a mass assassination mission of German officers. |
Sep 15 2014
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We’ve finally arrived at “the greatest movie ever made” – Citizen Kane! We tackle Orson Welles’ groundbreaking film as well as it’s reputation. We encounter a stable of great actors and talk about Welles’ career. Is this film the greatest move ever? That is certainly a matter of taste. We spend a lot of time talking about the film’s legacy and that may be more important than the film itself.
We also say the next movie we watch will be “Man on Wire.” Turns out we were wrong. It will be “The Dirty Dozen.”
Citizen Kane (1941) | |
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Rating: 8.3/10 (464,150 votes) Director: Orson Welles Writer: Herman J. Mankiewicz, Orson Welles, John Houseman Stars: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore Runtime: 119 min Rated: PG Genre: Drama, Mystery Released: 05 Sep 1941 |
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Plot: Following the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance: 'Rosebud.' |
Sep 02 2014
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Having tackled Tim Burton’s Ed Wood, we used our latest episode to look at Ed Wood’s magnum opus, Plan 9 From Outer Space! The film, rightly or wrongly, is hailed as the worst movie of all time. Our friend and bad movie aficionado Kelvin Hatle joins us once again to explore what will forever be known as Bela Lugosi’s last film. Listen as we talk about how this film got made and how it went from obscurity to cult classic.
Our next episode will be all about one of the best movies ever made: Citizen Kane!
Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957) | |
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Rating: 3.9/10 (40,237 votes) Director: Edward D. Wood Jr. Writer: Edward D. Wood Jr. Stars: Gregory Walcott, Tom Keene, Mona McKinnon Runtime: 79 min Rated: Not Rated Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi Released: 22 Jul 1959 |
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Plot: Evil aliens attack Earth and set their terrible "Plan 9" into action. As the aliens resurrect the dead of the Earth, the lives of the living are in danger. |
Aug 15 2014
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This episode, we enter the world of Tim Burton and his homage to the king of bad movies, Ed Wood! What is true and what is not true about this story is nowhere near as important as the personal touch Burton brings to this story. You can tell that this is a movie dedicated to everyone who wanted to be an artist so badly, the fact they had no talent was of little consequence.
Our next episode is inspired by this one. We’ll be watching Plan 9 From Outer Space!
Ed Wood (1994) | |
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Rating: 7.8/10 (183,174 votes) Director: Tim Burton Writer: Rudolph Grey, Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski Stars: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker Runtime: 127 min Rated: R Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama Released: 07 Oct 1994 |
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Plot: Ambitious but troubled movie director Edward D. Wood Jr. tries his best to fulfill his dreams despite his lack of talent. |
Aug 01 2014
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Our newest installment was once again recorded live at the Trylon microcinema in Minneapolis! We watched Metropolis with live accompaniment from Fugitive. Jena was treated to what many would consider the first true Science Fiction film with original music composed specially for the showing! A sold out house joined us for a great experience and many of them stayed behind to discuss the film. It was a great discussion cut short only because we wanted to make sure the folks at the Trylon could go home.
Please note that part one of the episode was recorded outside and part two was recorded inside the theater with audience interaction. We apologize if anything is difficult to hear.
The break music is “Desruction” by Loverboy. It comes from the Moroder soundtrack.
Our August 15th episode will be a discussion of Tim Burton’s Ed Wood!
Metropolis (1927) | |
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Rating: 8.3/10 (184,792 votes) Director: Fritz Lang Writer: Thea von Harbou, Fritz Lang Stars: Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel, Gustav Fröhlich Runtime: 153 min Rated: Not Rated Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi Released: 13 Mar 1927 |
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Plot: In a futuristic city sharply divided between the working class and the city planners, the son of the city's mastermind falls in love with a working-class prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences. |
Jul 15 2014
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July is silent film month at A Reel Education! For our newest episode, we had Jena watch Buster Keaton’s best known work – The General! Not only was this our first Buster Keaton film, it was our first trip into the world of silent film. We talk a lot about how the musical accompaniment changes the experience of watching one of these films.
Speaking of silent films and musical accompaniment, our next episode will be recorded live at the Trylon theater on July 20th! We’ll be watching Metropolis with a live band!
The General (1926) | |
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Rating: 8.1/10 (97,467 votes) Director: Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton Writer: Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman, Al Boasberg Stars: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Glen Cavender Runtime: 78 min Rated: Passed Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy Released: 02 Jan 1927 |
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Plot: After being rejected by the Confederate military, not realizing it was due to his crucial civilian role, an engineer must single-handedly recapture his beloved locomotive after it is seized by Union spies and return it through ene... |
Jul 01 2014
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This week’s episode was recorded live at the Trylon theater in Minneapolis. We watched Francis Ford Coppola’s classic thriller The Conversation featuring Gene Hackman. Afterward, we had a spirited conversation with several members of the audience. Because we were live in the theater, some of the conversation might be a little bit quiet for some listeners. Sorry about that!
Our next episode will be all about Buster Keaton’s The General!
The Conversation (1974) | |
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Rating: 7.7/10 (121,143 votes) Director: Francis Ford Coppola Writer: Francis Ford Coppola Stars: Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Allen Garfield Runtime: 113 min Rated: PG Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller Released: 12 Apr 1974 |
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Plot: A paranoid, secretive surveillance expert has a crisis of conscience when he suspects that the couple he is spying on will be murdered. |
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