The Next Reel Film Podcast

"Once the film is out of fashion, you think they’ll still follow you? No way." Pablo Larraín didn’t intend to direct three films that took place during the Pinochet dictatorship – it just happening that way. Looking at Tony Manero, the first film in what is dubbed as his ‘unintentional trilogy,’ it’s clear that Larraín is not one to shy away from challenging his audience. But in doing so, is he pushing us away too? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our series on Pablo Larraín’s Unintentional Trilogy with his 2008 film, Tony Manero. We talk about why we don’t like this film, but look at what perhaps Larraín was working toward by creating such an unlikeable protagonist for the film. We discuss how well his parallels worked between Raúl’s world – an obsession with John Travolta’s character from Saturday Night Fever, general awful behavior and murder – and the world of Chile under the Pinochet dictatorship – general awful behavior and murder. We chat about actor Alfredo Castro and what he brings to the table as this despicable character. We look at the cinematography and editing in the film and, as refreshing as it is here, question how well it’s connected thematically to the story. And we look at some connections, both obvious and less so, this film has with Saturday Night Fever. It’s an interesting film that makes for a very challenging watch. We both had a difficult time with this one but still felt that Larraín was working toward some interesting things, even if we’re not sure he ever quite got there. But there’s a lot to talk about so check it out then tune in! Film Sundries Watch this film: AmazonOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkSaturday Night Fever. Seriously.FlickchartLetterboxd Trailers of the WeekAndy's Trailer: American Assassin — "I’m not convinced I want to watch this movie, but Michael Keaton nearly does it for me. He’s hit a new point in his career where I’m excited by about everything he does. He’s not carrying the film, but I have a feeling his presence will be the draw for me if I decide to see this one."Pete's Trailer: Beatriz at Diner — "Yeah, this may be a little on the nose for today’s political climate in the US… France… UK… but holy smokes is it fun to watch Hayak go head to head with Lithgow. Pitched as a comedy, but I’m not convinced any of this is altogether funny."Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

"I just knew if I didn’t start driving, I wasn’t gonna see you again." Kelly Reichardt’s most recent film, last year’s Certain Women, is a bit of a departure for her in that it’s a film consisting of three separate stories that are only loosely connected (other than thematically). But in this structure, it’s interesting to see Reichardt at her best as perhaps the stories each end up getting as much time as they really need to be told, at least in our perspective. Unfortunately, it didn’t find its audience and lost money at the box office. Luckily, Reichardt’s proven herself as a filmmaker who knows how to tell intimate character stories and will continue making movies. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we conclude our Kelly Reichardt series with her 2016 film Certain Women. We talk about the certain women in these stories and how the stories work for us now that they’re all about 30 minutes each (although we both still struggle with one of them). We chat about the nature of these ensemble, multi-story films and how well it works under the guidance of Reichardt, especially now that she’s writing the screenplay herself. We look at each of the actors, including Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams and our personal favorite Lily Gladstone, and talk about what they bring to the table. We look at Reichardt’s minimalist nature and contemplate why it doesn’t always work well for us (notably the dark cinematography). And we touch on the box office and what it perhaps says about her investors that they keep investing large amounts of money in her films. It’s an interesting film that, while not one of our favorites, certainly was the favorite of the series. There are a lot of really interesting moments throughout the film and it’s worth watching and talking about, so check it out then tune in! Film Sundries Watch this film: iTunesScript TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkHalf in Love, Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It by Maile MalloyFlickchartLetterboxd Trailers of the WeekAndy's Trailer: Detroit — "Kathryn Bigelow’s a favorite on this show and her latest film looks to be as intense as her last several. Add in a dose of political intensity with a release that feels very timely, this could be one of the films everyone’s talking about this summer. Plus, John Boyega!"Pete's Trailer: City of Tiny Lights — "Pretty straight forward private dick tribute: prostitute goes to a detective on a missing persons hunt. Twist? Stars Riz Ahmed who I really like in spite of that horrific Bourne tripe. The look of the London in the trailer is wonderful. I can only hope the look lives up to the film’s hard boiled promise."Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

"Is he ignorant or is he just plain evil?" The story of the real Meek’s Cutoff is an interesting and tragic tale in the early days of the Oregon Trail. Many pioneers lost their lives as they followed their guide, Stephen Meek, and proceeded to get lost. For her follow-up to Wendy and Lucy, Kelly Reichardt chose to make a film about this historical journey and the people who suffered while on it. But is her minimal filmmaking style effective for a historical drama? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Kelly Reichardt series with her 2010 film Meek’s Cutoff. We talk about the nature of stories told in media res and discuss if it works for a historical film like this one. We discuss Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood, Will Patton and the other actors performing here and look at what they bring to the table (and if any can top Bruce’s crazy character). And we chat about the look of the film and what Kelly, paired with her new cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt, were saying with their static shots, long takes, yellow tint, dark night scenes and 1.33:1 aspect ratio. It’s an interesting film. Not one we liked but an interesting one to look at and discuss, to be sure. Tune in! Film Sundries Watch this film: iTunes • Amazon • NetflixScript TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkStephen Meek — WikipediaFlickchartLetterboxd Trailers of the WeekAndy's Trailer: Thor: Ragnarok — "I’ve been excited about this Marvel movie ever since they announced Taika Waititi as its director. They’ve managed to keep Thor’s sense of humor in here, a healthy dose of Guardians of the Galaxy vibe running all through it, plus an arena battle with gladiator Hulk! Goth Cate Blanchett! Disco Jeff Goldblum! It’s insane in all the right ways – count me in!"Pete's Trailer: The Journey — "A road movie telling the story of Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness compressing what I believe was a 20 year drive toward peace in Northern Ireland. Much controversy about this film as a reenactment, but just maybe in spite of inaccuracies, it’s the kind of movie we need just now? Timothy Spall looks damned amazing as Paisley."Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

"Don’t be a nuisance. We don’t need that." Kelly Reichardt has been called a minimalist film director, and if you’re comparing her to someone like Michael Bay or Steven Spielberg or the Hughes brothers, that certainly seems to be the case, at least based on her 2008 film Wendy and Lucy. This film doesn’t have a lot of pizazz or a large cinematic sense. What it does have, though, is a character study in which we dig deeply into our protagonist during a difficult few days in her life. In that aspect, it isn’t minimal at all. Perhaps calling it incredibly focused would be a better way to describe it. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off a new series on director Kelly Reichardt with her 2008 lost dog film Wendy and Lucy. We talk about this ‘minimalist’ type of filmmaking and how it fits into the larger context of filmed stories that we know and love. We talk about how the story came about and was developed by Reichardt and writer Jon Raymond. We discuss Michelle Williams and her incredible (and incredibly internal) performance as Wendy, and how inadvertently she’s in all three of Reichardt’s films that we’re discussing in this series. We also chat about other actors in the film like Will Patton, Will Oldham, Wally Dalton and John Robinson and what they bring to the table. We look at the cinematography by Sam Levy and chat about what it brings to this story, notably the ‘naturalistic’ grainy and dark scenes. And we touch on the sound design and how Reichardt chose to use train sounds instead of score throughout the film. It’s a touching film yet one we oddly aren’t sure we’d return to anytime soon, but certainly is one well worth talking about. Check out this movie then tune in to the show! Film Sundries Watch this film: iTunes • AmazonScript TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkFlickchartLetterboxd Trailers of the WeekAndy's Trailer: Ingrid Goes West — "Aubrey Plaza seems to carry the balance between comedy and insanity quite well as demonstrated here. This looks darkly hilarious, if one can laugh at mental instability. Add in Elizabeth Olsen and O’Shea Jackson Jr., you’ve got what looks to be an awesome movie."Pete's Trailer: Black Butterfly — "A remake of Papillon Noir starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Antonio Banderas. It’s a Misery trailer that ducks subtlety and goes completely haywire too soon for my tastes, but I’m a sucker for ‘I’m a writer…’ stories so I’ll give this one a shot."Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

"Stay on the path." Right from the start, it was clear that Albert and Allen Hughes knew how to put films together. Whether paying homage to filmmakers they admire or playing with their own showy techniques, they know how to play with the visual tools they have available. In their post-apocalyptic film The Book of Eli, they make a very compelling film that’s exciting and entertaining while still maintaining the visceral edge they love to employ. But sadly, it’s the last film they worked on together, having since parted ways as filmmakers. Will they reunite down the road? Who knows. Will they increase their output now that they’re working solo? Not so far. Time will tell, but for now, this stands as the final Hughes Brothers film. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we close the chapter on our Hughes Brothers series with their 2010 film The Book of Eli. We talk about the incredible world the brothers create with this film and how fascinating it is, and how unfortunately it’s weighed down by a huge issue that neither of us can buy into. We talk about Gary Whitta’s script, how it was found and what some of our other problems are with it – though still celebrating the great elements in it too. We discuss Denzel in his fabulous performance here, even if one element of it still is our biggest problem. We also talk about the rest of the cast and how well they work in the film here. We celebrate the look of the film and all of the team who helped bring it to fruition. And we tip our hat to the fantastic camerawork, stunt work and sound work that came together to bring some incredible fight sequences to life. We have some issues with this film to be sure, but it’s still a completely engrossing film to watch that we have a great time with. It’s probably not for everyone but for anyone who is a fan of dystopian stories, it’s worth the watch. We have a great time chatting about it as we wrap up this series. Check it out then tune in! Film Sundries Watch this film: iTunes • AmazonScript TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkFlickchartLetterboxd Trailers of the WeekAndy's Trailer: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri — "Frances McDormand has proven herself to be a powerhouse actress before, but in this trailer, she’s kicking ass and taking names. Martin McDonagh makes films with incredible characters and it looks like he’s at it again here. Plus, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell and Peter Dinklage! I’m totally in!"Pete's Trailer: The Book of Henry — "Man, did this trailer ever take off in a direction I wasn’t expecting. Excited to see Jacob Tremblay in just about anything again, but that he ends up in another strong mother/son thriller? I guess that should be expected."Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

"No man amongst you is fit to judge the mighty art that I have wrought." The Hughes brothers hadn’t really had a big hit by the time they were offered to direct the adaptation of Alan Moore’s and Eddie Campbell’s graphic novel “From Hell,” detailing the characters involved in the ‘Jack the Ripper’ slayings in 1888 London. It offered an opportunity to tell a gritty story that still dealt with the people struggling at the bottom of society, something they’d already proved successful at. But the graphic novel’s incredibly dense and despite the many rewrites the script went through, it still ended up a film that is hard to call a great success for the brothers. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our series on the Hughes brothers with their 2001 film From Hell.  We look at the film and our thoughts on both the good and bad elements of it, and discuss the graphic novel and how by its very nature was not an easy thing to adapt. We discuss Albert and Allen and some of the decisions they made going into this film. We talk about the cast and why some of them work better than others (Heather Graham is definitely the one who stands out as a sore thumb unfortunately). We chat about the cinematography and the film technique they used to achieve the fascinating dream sequences. And we discuss Trevor Jones score and how well it works, as well as how it felt like there were sequences that needed score that didn’t get any. It’s a fascinating film, if not as successful as we’d have liked it to be. Perhaps a longer tale told would work better? Who knows. Until that happens, though, check this one out then tune in! Film Sundries Watch this film: iTunes • AmazonScript TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkFrom Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie CampbellFlickchartLetterboxdOriginal From Hell Letter Trailers of the WeekAndy's Trailer: Carrie Pilby — "I don’t know if this will be any good, but I like the quirky characters and the overall vibe of the trailer. Plus Nathan Lane and Gabriel Byrne? I want to see it just for them. Here’s hoping it’s worth it."Pete's Trailer: War Machine — "So, I guess we know where Netflix is spending all it’s money. Brad Pitt this time in a satire of America in Afghanistan from the top down. What’s the deal with his hand? Crazy cast: Brad as Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Tilda, Anthony Michael, Lakeith, Ben, Topher, and ‘he’ll keep calling me, and calling me, and calling me…’ Alan. Got ‘em all? Before it comes out, go read The Operators."Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

"Being a black man in America isn’t easy. The hunt is on and you’re the prey." When 20-year-old twin brothers Albert and Allen Hughes directed their first feature film in 1993, Menace II Society, they immediately showed audiences everywhere that they were storytellers who weren’t afraid to tell risky stories and filmmakers who understood the language of the medium. The film seemed dangerous. It was vicious. Gritty. Brutal. And it was authentic, which perhaps is the greatest testament to what these young filmmakers set out to do. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our Hughes Brothers series with their 1993 debut, Menace II Society. We talk about the energy they bring to the film (with a lot of homages to Scorsese) and how that energy drives home the message of the film. We look at how the Hughes brothers got their start and got to this place where they were making this film. We discuss the actors – from Tyrin Turner to Larenz Tate, from Jada Pinkett (and her baggy clothes) to MC Eiht, and from Samuel L. Jackson and Bill Duke to Charles S. Dutton – and look at what they bring to the table. We touch on the cinematography that Lisa Rinzler lenses for the film here, working with the Hughes brothers to bring their vibrant world to life. And we talk about how well this film did for itself in ’93.  It’s a fantastic film that definitely has held up some 24 years after its release. It has the same vitality and energy that it did back then and warrants a watch. Check it out then tune in!  Film Sundries Watch this film: iTunes • Amazon • NetflixScript TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkFlickchartLetterboxd Trailers of the WeekAndy's Trailer: Here Alone — "Are they zombies? Or just sick people? I don’t care. It’s got a great look and feel and I want to see it."Pete's Trailer: Song to Song — "That’s right, Andy and I were just talking about how we aren’t all that crazy about Terrence Malick films when this comes along. Maybe the setting in and around the music scene will make it easier to swallow? The cast certainly doesn't hurt."Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

"The situation in Sweden must be real bad as even lice have begun to emigrate to America."It’s time for our first 2017 Listener’s Choice episode! Pony Prize winner Finn Frode, who’s from Norway but living in Sweden, won and selected a Swedish film with one of his favorite Norwegian actresses – Liv Ullmann. The film he selected is the first half of Jan Troell’s epic tale of immigration – 1971’s The Emigrants. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we dig into our latest listener’s choice film.We talk about the importance of the film in Sweden and how the books upon which it’s based are perceived there. We discuss the nature of this film and how it’s quite powerful, but at the same time a difficult film to watch due to its filming style, the story it’s telling and its duration. We chat about the actors – notably Max Von Sydow and Ullmann – and what they’re bringing to the table. And we hit on the strange and discordant music and how it works in a film like this. It’s a great film and certainly put us both in a place where we were ready to watch the follow-up. So check out this movie then tune in!Film SundriesWatch this film: iTunes • AmazonOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkThe Emigrants Novels: Book 1 by Vilhelm MobergFlickchartLetterboxdThe New Land Theme by John Denver Trailers of the WeekAndy's Trailer: The Bride — "I don’t know what to make of this crazy Russian film. The trailer seems to tell two stories, but perhaps one of those is just the actual film’s prologue? Who knows but it looks nuts, and don’t expect any help from the terrible synopses written on IMDb or Wikipedia. I think I want to see this just to see if it’s as much a mess as this trailer makes it look."Pete's Trailer: Bright — "Yeah, I didn’t need to see the trailer after I’d read that Taron Edgerton would be playing the first Orc cop, but then I watched it. Did you catch Noomi in blue (skin)? Another hot Netflix get for December."Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

"There are many things you have not seen." Zhang Yimou has done serious dramas. He’s done big wuxia action films, but he hasn’t had a success in a while and perhaps it should come as no surprise that his newest film is designed to be a big fantasy action blockbuster – a legend about the Great Wall of China and the dragons they people were trying to thwart. While it’s been a success in China and the rest of the world, though, it opened third at the US box office, likely due to its terrible trailers that sold it poorly. But is the film any good? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Zhang Yimou series with his 2016 film The Great Wall. We talk about why this film surprised us quite a bit and how, even with some big problems, we both ended up having fun times with the film. We look at what Zhang brings to the table and what political messages he may be trying to get across with this film. We chat about the cast – notably Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, William Defoe and Andy Lau – and how the claims of whitewashing seem absurd; if anything, the film ends up having a nice multicultural feel to it. We look at the cinematography and production design, noting that everything is right up Zhang’s alley. We touch on Ramin Djawadi’s score and how it works perfectly for the story here. And we debate the numbers, wondering if it’s fair to out-and-out consider this a financial success since it’s made its money back, or if we need to consider it a failure in the bigger picture for not doing what they set out to do with it which was create captive audiences in China as well as the US. Did Zhang make the right choice in making this film? Is it going to be considered a success or will it flop in the US? We’re curious to see how history holds this film up. So check out the movie – you’ll probably have more fun with it than you were expecting – then tune in to this week’s show.  Film Sundries Watch this film: iTunes • Amazon • [Netflix][netflix] • [Hulu][hulu]Original theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkFlickchartLetterboxd Trailers of the WeekAndy's Trailer: The Discovery — "I love the sci-fi concept of this and love the cast. I’ve heard some mixed things from its premiere at Sundance, but I want to see it anyway. Proof of the afterlife? Sounds like it could make for an interesting story. We shall see..."Pete's Trailer: The House — "I don’t know how else to characterize my feeling about the potential of this movie: in my mind, it’s going to be another Old School. Now, no one speaks until release."Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

"How swift your sword must be." Zhang Yimou had always wanted to direct an action film, and after years of working on the script, he finally had his chance with his ambitious visual feast, 2002’s Hero. Shot all over China starring some of the hottest Chinese stars telling a story about the assassination attempt on the King of Qin several thousand years ago, the film was the most expensive project in China’s history. Luckily, it also became the highest-grossing up to that point. Considering the last two films we talked about on the show were banned for years, it’s great to see Zhang and China finding a common ground with this film. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Zhang Yimou series with 2002’s Hero. We talk about what this film does as far as depicting a true story, but done in a way that allows Zhang to try his hand at action (with help from action director Tony Ching). We look at all of Zhang’s filmmaking techniques that he throws at this film – the colors, the shot compositions, the shot lengths, the operatic quality – and how well they work. We discuss Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi and Donnie Yen and what they all bring to the table here. And we discuss how Miramax not only delayed the film’s release numerous times but also made the egregious decision to replace Jet Li’s character’s sword in the poster with something else incorrect for the period, only to try to connect it to Quentin Tarantino and his Kill Bill films. It’s a gorgeous film that tells a beautiful and tragic story, but one that would still be incredibly easy to return to. So check out the movie then tune in! Film Sundries Watch this film: iTunes • AmazonScript TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkJin Ke’s Assassination Attempt of Qin general Fan WujiFlickchartLetterboxd Trailers of the WeekAndy's Trailer: The Blackcoat’s Daughter — "While this may not have the best IMDb rating, it has a creepy enough vibe for me to be drawn to it. Plus it has a creepy reading of an old timey poem, which makes the trailer creepy and makes the movie seem even creepier. So yeah, I’ll probably watch this one."Pete's Trailer: The Bad Batch — "I’m trying to gin up my horror mojo. No idea what to make of this latest bid from writer/director Ana Lily Amirpour. Dark, cannibals, saws, Keanu Reeves, Jason Momoa, and Giovanni Ribisi. Not the latest thing I would have expected from any of them, thus, the thing I’m most interested to see from all of them."Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible