Rye Smile Films

We take it back to the 90s to dive into some classic action films and up first is the "Die Hard on a Bus," with Speed. Journey with us as we discuss everything from the screenplay to characterization of our hero. Is this a seminal action classic or are there better action films from the decade? Our Flight is a ranking of our favorite Keanu Reeve's roles and we wrap with a Nightcap pitching our bes...

This week, it's time for some more small batch film review as we head to the world of dinosaurs with the latest big summer release, Jurassic World: Dominion. Journey with us as we try to dissect this convoluted plot that brings back some franchise legacy characters. Is this a worthy conclusion to the Jurassic saga or should this franchise go extinct? So pour a double rye, grab your motorcycle to o...

This week we take to the skies for some small batch film review as we switch from guns to missiles once again with Top Gun: Maverick. Journey with us as we discuss everything from the callbacks to those spectacular flight sequences. Does this long-awaited sequel do justice to the original or should this have stayed in development hell? So pour a drink on the rocks, grab your bomber jacket, and get...

This week we wrap up our wild Nicolas Cage cask with the surreal, revenge epic, Mandy. Journey with us as we discuss the artistic styles and all the crazy turns this film takes. Is this the Cage we want to see or is he better suited for other projects? Our Flight question this week is a listing of our top 3 Nicolas Cage films and we wrap with a Nightcap pitching other actor casks to cover. So pour...

This week we continue our Nicolas Cage cask with a look at his Best Actor winning performance in Leaving Las Vegas. Journey with us as we discuss the use of music to who we think the main character actually is. Is this a worthy performance for an Oscar or should he have won for another film? Our Flight this week is a discussion on actors who are most deserving of an Oscar and we wrap with a Nightc...

This week we take a deep dive into a new actor cask built all around the man, the myth, the legend: Nicolas Cage and up first is his new release, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Journey with us as we discuss this meta approach to the Cage persona and how the story could've added a few other elements. Is this a winner or are we left wanting more? Our Flight this week is to cast Nicolas Cag...

It's time to start the summer movie season with a trip to the multiverse and Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness. Journey with us as we discuss this new MCU film and all the crazy turns it takes. Is this a unique adventure for our heroes or has this been done to death? Our Flight this week is listing our favorite Marvel couples and we wrap with a Nightcap discussing our top 5 highest gros...

It's the last stop on our "Western Four Ways" cask with a look at the modern western by way of Taylor Sheridan and Hell or High Water. Journey with us as we discuss the new west and the careers of certain actors. Is this a good direction to take the western or should we return to the old way? Our Flight this week is about our favorite Jeff Bridges' films and we wrap with a Nightcap picking brother...

This week we take the cowboy out of the west, place him in NYC and give him an interesting companion with Midnight Cowboy. Journey with us as we discuss everything from the controversial nature of the film to its status as an important film in the New Hollywood era. Is this the modern interpretation of a western set in a sprawling metropolis? Our Flight this week is to name the 3 best films that d...

On this week's episode we tackle the next phase of our Western cask with a look at a samurai film from acclaimed director, Akira Kurosawa, with Throne of Blood. Journey with us as we dissect his style of filmmaking and this adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Would this film be better in color? And how impressive is Spider Web Castle as a set? Our Flight is a conversation on which westerns would...

This week we head out west to start a new review cask called "The Western Four Ways" and up first we tackle the traditional with The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance with special guest Mark. Journey with us as we discuss the themes of the west and this particular story. Is this a western classic or does it deserved to be forgotten? Our Flight this week is discussing our all time favorite Westerns. We...

This week we are doing some small batch film review with a look at the brand new venture into the Sony Spider-Man Universe, with Morbius. Journey with us as we discuss the origins of the character and that absolutely crazy end credit scene. Is this another great character to sink our teeth into or is this a huge miss? Our Flight and Nightcap this week are to pick a hero and villain from Marvel tha...

This week we make a trip to San Francisco with David Fincher, in his true crime epic covering one of the most notorious unsolved cases in Zodiac. Journey with us as we discuss the brilliant casting to the real life elements of the case. Is this another solid turn for Fincher or is this one best forgotten? Our Flight this week is to cast Zodiac if it were made in the 70s. We wrap with a Nightcap di...

This week we make a stop to the Baltimore State Hospital for a visit with Hannibal Lecter, in The Silence of the Lambs. Journey with us as we discuss one of horror's great villains and dissect all the characters arcs as we try to catch Buffalo Bill. Is this the prestige horror film that deserves all the accolades or have other genre staples done it better? Our Flight this week is to pick a killer...

This week we dive into a new film review cask, this one all about serial killers on the big screen and up first is one of David Fincher's best, Se7en. Journey with us as we discuss the screenplay origins to that infamous ending. Is this a masterpiece of the 90s or have other films in the genre eclipsed it? Our Flight this week is to cast the next cop duo on screen with contemporary or classic acto...

Gear up for a trip to Gotham City as we tackle one of 2022s most anticipated films, The Batman. Journey with us as we dissect this new iteration of the caped crusader and his detective roots. Is this a good start for the Pattison era or are there one too many villains in the way? Our Flight this week is to give Batman a superpower that would actually be useful to his mythos. Our Nightcap involves...

Take a trip in the Rye Smile time machine as we give you some more Alfred Hitchcock this week with another look at Rebecca. Journey with us as we discuss Hitchcock's first foray into Hollywood and his only film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Pour some Rye, grab your Criterion copy of the film, and we will be back with you next week for an episode on one of 2022s most anticipated films....

This week we make a stop to Bodega Bay but some pesky animals almost ruin the fun, in the form of Hitchcock's The Birds. Journey with us as we discuss everything from the unique costuming to the reason the birds attack. Is this another suspense classic or is it a lesser Hitchcock effort? Our Flight this week is to name an animal attack film we wouldn't want to be a part of. We wrap with a Nightcap...

It's time to cover a heavy hitter on the podcast with one of the most important and influential films of all time, Psycho. Journey with us as we dissect Norman Bates and that infamous shower scene. Is this the suspense classic we all remember or are other films more important to the genre? Our Flight this week is a discussing on our least desirable vacations from films. We wrap with a Nightcap dis...

It's time to return to the master of suspense with a new cask all about Alfred Hitchcock and up first is a voyeur thriller in Rear Window. Journey with us as we talk about all the themes and the layout of trying to catch a murderer. Is this Hitchcock's best films or is there something better in his filmography? Our Flight is a listing of our favorite Hitchcock film couples. We wrap with a Nightcap...

It's time to close our heist cask with one final job, courtesy of Steven Soderbergh and Ocean's Eleven. Journey with us as we discuss the scheming for the heist along with that amazing ensemble cast. Is this a well thought out job or is it innately flawed? Our Flight this week is choosing film characters to steal the Lombardi Trophy. We wrap with a Nightcap choosing our favorite Soderbergh films....

It's a new week and time to settle in for a new heist, this time with a film that few people talk about, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Journey with us as we discuss everything from the twist and turn story to the phenomenal acting performances. Is this a hidden film gem or should it stay undiscovered? Our Flight and Nightcap are film recommendations that are off the beaten path. So pour a st...

It's a new year and time to start with a new film review cask. Get ready as we prepare for a slew of heists and up first is a trip to Brooklyn with Al Pacino in the form of Dog Day Afternoon. Journey with us as we discuss everything from the true life inspiration to the breakdown of the acting. Is this a classic 70s heist film or have other films done the bank robbery better? Pour some bourbon, gr...

It's time to wrap up the year with arguably the biggest film release of the year in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Journey with us as we discuss all the surprises, secrets, and crazy reveals. Is this the return to form for Marvel Studios and Spider-Man? Our Flight this week is a conversation on which villains/castings we'd like to see in a future Spider-Man film. We wrap with a Nightcap discussing our t...

This week it's time to give thanks for another film we are happy exists, and that film is The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Journey with us as we breakdown this well told story and get into all those great performances. Is this one of the great films of all time? Our Flight this week is picking our favorite film from the Huston clan. We wrap up with a Nightcap discussing our favorite actors from t...