Reel Film Chronicles

Reel Film Chronicles

Once in a generation, a voice emerges that captures the essence of the time. The Reel Film Chronicles is not that voice. This is just a couple of guys who love movies and enjoy discussing them from time to time. Join us for an ongoing dialogue about movies: new and old, blockbuster and indie, contemporary and classic, popular and cult, the well known and the (practically) unheard of, we tackle them all. So put your feet up, relax, and get your popcorn ready as Reel Film Chronicles shares our love of watching and collecting movies of every genre.

  1. 2025 Top 10

    May 8

    2025 Top 10

    It's that time again, for the exclusive top ten lists of our favourite films from the past year! The value is incredible: you're getting Brian and Nathan's top ten of 2025, but also a whole host honourable mentions that didn't quite make the list. And chapters! Look at that, if your podcast player supports it, give it a go to scoot around the episode at your leisure. We try out best to avoid spoilers for the films. We also want to hear from you! What are your top films of the year? And lest we forget: next episode will be our bottom 5 of 2025, which is always a fun episode with our fair share of hot takes and disappointments. Thanks again for listening! Our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reel Film Chronicles⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Letterboxd Profiles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nathan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Nathan's Site: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Feed the Voices⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Episode 96 2025 Top 10 Chapters 0:00 - Introduction, Context and Disclaimers4:56 - 10: Weapons8:02 - 10: Black Bag10:38 - 9: Superman14:19 - 9: Life of Chuck19:12 - 8: Marty Supreme22:21 - 8: Predator Badlands26:55 - 7: Black Bag29:25 - 7: The Surfer33:30 - 6: Predator Badlands37:27 - 6: F143:59 - 5: Companion47:41 - 5: Wake Up, Dead Man52:40 - 4: Bugonia57:10 - 4: Weapons1:01:49 - 3: Train Dreams1:05:11 - 3: 28 Years Later1:10:40 - 2: One Battle After Another1:14:31 - 2: Sinners1:20:01 - 1: Sinners1:23:48 - 1: Train Dreams1:31:33 - Honourable Mentions1:42:03 - Closing ThoughtsMusic by ⁠Alexi Action⁠ from ⁠Pixabay

    1h 43m
  2. Shelby Oaks (2024)

    12/31/2025

    Shelby Oaks (2024)

    Although SHELBY OAKS may have a 2024 tag, the crowd-sourced indie film truly received a wide release in 2025. We may have missed the theatrical run for Chris Stuckmann's directorial debut, but we caught the film on streaming and had plenty to say about the effort, as well as the story of how this film came together. It's that kind of movie-making magic that we tend to forget about sometimes as we are inundated with big budget films throughout the year. I wanted to say thank you again for listening, and more apologies for an inconsistent release schedule. It's been a tough year: although we've recorded plenty of times, we stepped back from the mics and the editing process to focus on our sanity. Seeing folks come back and listen is really amazing, and we're fortunate to be able to put this podcast together. We have a handful of recorded episodes that will hit the editing bay soon. If you have any recommendations for films for us to cover, please let us know! Shelby Oaks (2024) Directed by: Chris Stuckmann Starring: Camille Sullivan - Sarah Durn Genres: horror - mystery Runtime: 91 minutes Our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reel Film Chronicles⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Letterboxd Profiles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nathan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Nathan's Site: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Feed the Voices⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠| ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IMDb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Episode 94 Shelby Oaks Music by ⁠Alexi Action⁠ from ⁠Pixabay

    55 min
  3. Gladiator II (2024)

    06/04/2025

    Gladiator II (2024)

    Because we exist now in a purgatory between reality and unreality and all original thought has been expunged, filtered out through a cosmic sieve that we can neither perceive nor define, we are now subject to a neverending cavalcade of remakes, reboots, reminaginings, and sequels. Gladiator II is not just a legacy sequel to an Oscar-winning film that has become revered among fans and critics alike; it is yet another herald of the New Age, in which our collective consciousness is only capable of telling stories that have already been told and consuming those same stories again, and again, and again in an endless cycle until the heat death of this universe and our reabsorption into the next link in the Great Chain of Being. Fortunately for us, some of those stories are told by Ridley Scott and are still spectacles worthy of the big screen. Gladiator II is a direct sequel to Gladiator, catching us up on the state of the Roman Empire since the heroic General Maximus gave his life to bring down a corrupt leader and provide a glimmer of hope for the oppressed and the outcast. As always, Ridley Scott has his finger on the pulse, and shows that Maximus' sacrifice led to... the rise of not one but two insane Emperors drunk on their own power and slowly destroying their own empire. But a new her will arise in Hanno, a warrior who is enslaved and forced to fight as a gladiator but who secretly holds the power to overthrow the empire... Listen, if you've seen the first one you know the drill, but you also know the old saying; if it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you have the constitution, then journey with The Reel Film Chronicles into this fantasy world that vaguely resembles ancient Rome to see if the second time really is the charm and whether Gladiator II answers the age-old question that echoes in eternity: Are you not entertained? GLADIATOR II (2024) Directed by: Ridley Scott Starring: Paul Mescal - Denzel Washington - Pedro Pascal - Connie Nielsen Genres: drama - action - adventure Runtime: 148 minutes Our Website: ⁠⁠⁠Reel Film Chronicles⁠⁠⁠ Our Letterboxd Profiles: ⁠⁠⁠Brian⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Nathan⁠⁠⁠ Nathan's Site: ⁠⁠⁠Feed the Voices⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠ ⁠| ⁠⁠⁠IMDb⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠Alexi Action⁠ from ⁠Pixabay Episode 92 Gladiator 2

    1 hr
  4. Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

    04/16/2025

    Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

    The lights dim. The curtains rise. A murmur passes through the room, the residual sound of a thousand voices going silent. The stage is set. A street from another century. A lamppost that would make Gene Kelly feel right at home. A series of storefronts with nothing behind them but a skeleton of two-by-fours. Then there he is, appearing as though by magic. Joaquin Phoenix. In his full Joker makeup. As he starts into a passionate musical number, bellowing his emotions to the back of the room and beginning a highly choreographed dance number, two thoughts cross your mind: 1) Joaquin Phoenix truly is one of the greatest performers of our generation and 2) What the hell is he doing in your kid's school play? Mr. Phoenix is definitely not out of place in Joker: Folie à Deux, Todd Phillips' follow up to his smash hit Joker, which took the box office by storm back in 2019, earning nearly $1 billion for Warner Bros. Joker 2? Let's say its contributions to Warner Bros.' portfolio were more... aspirational than financial. In a genre-bending twist, Phillips and Phoenix take superhero movies into a new realm with the help of Lady Gaga, introducing the world to the first musical superhero blockbuster movie of the modern era. Taking a sharp left turn from where most audiences thought about the trajectory of the character and world, the team behind the second Joker movie instead decided to try something completely different with the character and the genre. Whether or not that new direction worked for you (and based purely on box office numbers, odds are that it did not) is a matter of taste. Either way, Joker: Folie à Deux is nothing if not a bold vision, and your intrepid hosts at The Reel Film Chronicles have gallantly sallied forth to explore the deranged minds at the heart of of this film and the characters they've created on screen for our twisted amusement. JOKER: FOLIE à DEUX (2024) directed by: Todd Phillips starring: Joaquin Phoenix - Lady Gaga - Brendan Gleeson - Catherine Keener runtime: 138 minutes Our Website: ⁠Reel Film Chronicles⁠ Our Letterboxd Profiles: ⁠Brian⁠ | ⁠Nathan⁠ Nathan's Site: ⁠Feed the Voices⁠ ⁠Letterboxd⁠ | ⁠IMDb⁠ Music by ⁠Alexi Action⁠ from ⁠Pixabay episode 90

    1h 7m

About

Once in a generation, a voice emerges that captures the essence of the time. The Reel Film Chronicles is not that voice. This is just a couple of guys who love movies and enjoy discussing them from time to time. Join us for an ongoing dialogue about movies: new and old, blockbuster and indie, contemporary and classic, popular and cult, the well known and the (practically) unheard of, we tackle them all. So put your feet up, relax, and get your popcorn ready as Reel Film Chronicles shares our love of watching and collecting movies of every genre.