Zach Mann
Roulette Films
Roulette Films is a podcast where Zach Mann (me) reviews movies. I try to focus on the positive of any movie when possible, as there is always someone behind the art that really believed in their work. If you're interested in more content, subscribe, or follow a link in an episode description. Review episodes will be titled as Roulette Reviews, while other episodes will be titled Roulette Films. Each review will have a similar set of questions I ask myself, with some others from friends or guests. In those "other" episodes, I'll be talking about whatever creative endeavor I've been working on.
N'hésitez pas à visiter le site du podcast et à soutenir son créateur : zach-mann.com
Où écouter ?
Les podcasts dans l'appli Replaio Radio Bientôt disponibleLes podcasts arrivent très bientôt dans l'appli. Installe-la dès maintenant et découvre en avant-première une toute nouvelle façon de vivre les podcasts
Épisodes
085 - Roulette Reviews - Resident Evil 28.09.2026 9:39
In this review, I gas up what I thought was a really excellent adaptation of the Resident Evil video game franchise. Cregger once again does an excellent job of putting his own unique spin into his latest horror film, and captures the overall feeling of playing through a RE game exceptionally well. I go into why this is the case and discuss why I think certain criticisms levied against the film ar...
084 - Roulette Reviews - Coyote Vs. The Caped Crusader (The Superior Adaptation) 31.08.2026 7:58
In this review, I sing the praise of Coyote Vs. Acme while also singing the dirge of Batman Caped Crusader. Believe me that these things are both very much deserved. But, if you disagree, let me know in the comments below! Thanks for watching. You can watch this review along with clips from the show and the film here on my YouTube channel. And you can find all my other links here .
083 - Roulette Roundtable - Spider-Man: Brand New Day (feat. Jordyn) 24.08.2026 59:38
Hello hello! In another open dialogue edition of a movie review, I discuss the latest Spider-Man film with long-time sister, first time caller, Jordyn. Though five years apart, both of us have grown up watching superhero films and following the various phases of the MCU. So, we got together to give our thoughts on the latest Spider-entry to this massive saga. There was a lot we loved and a few bit...
082 - Roulette Roundtable - The Odyssey (feat. Jack and Eric) 05.08.2026 1:00:59
For the first time in Roulette Films history, the IQ in the room has more than tripled! That's right, long time friends and first time contributors Jack and Eric join me to discuss Christopher Nolan's latest film. We touch on our favorite bits of the film, themes present throughout the narrative, and our personal highlights of Odysseus's years-long torture tour. We even talk some theor...
081 - Roulette Reviews - The Odyssey (It's Really, Really Good) 27.07.2026 8:28
My thoughts on The Odyssey after having seen it opening weekend. It's impressive on almost every level, and I take time to call out what about it works so well specifically. From the physical filmmaking of it to the thematic choices and points of emphasis, it all clicks. This creates a truly unique experience that I can't recommend enough. Watch this review along with scenes from the film on my Yo...
080 - Roulette Reviews - Disclosure Day 29.06.2026 6:10
Though I'm a bit late to the party, I finally had the chance to sit down and see Disclosure Day in theaters. And, honestly, I enjoyed it a lot more than I figured I would have. Spielberg never ceases to amaze, regardless of the type of project he chooses to put forth. In this review, I discuss why I think some people aren't as over the moon as usual with the latest Spielberg project, and h...
079 - Roulette Reviews - The Devils You Know (Daredevil: BA S2, Devil Wears Prada 2) 21.05.2026 9:57
Here, I discuss the unusual number of similarities between Daredevil Born Again Season 2 and Devil Wears Prada 2. I analyze their antagonists and how they are ultimately defeated in order to better understand why one felt more satisfying to me than the other. I also discuss the kinds of antagonists each story uses, and how this works to their benefit. Let me know what you thought of this review in...
078 - Roulette Reviews - The Drama (Torture Is Good, Actually!) 26.04.2026 6:09
A few weeks back, I saw The Drama. And I thought it was really well done. Despite a relatively simple plot, it makes for a really compelling watch. And I think this is in large part due to how well it executes on the core idea of torturing its characters. I talk about why this works for the film as well as why it's important for films and their characters in general. Find this review as well a...
077 - Roulette Reviews - Project Hail Mary (Structure Enables Emotion) 25.03.2026 5:51
Last weekend, I saw Project Hail Mary. And, as a fan of the book, I was not surprised to wind up liking it very much. It did everything very well and hammered home its themes and core ideas with a sincerity that is not so common to come across in the modern media landscape. I talk about why its emotional beats hit as hard as they do, as well as the efficiency and effectiveness which with the film...
076 - Roulette Reviews - Send Help (The Greatest Survivor Player Ever?) 20.02.2026 9:43
In this romantic, heart-warming review, I discuss Send Help, the new thriller film from Sam Raimi starring Dylan O'Brien and Rachel McAdams. I really enjoyed it, so I have a bit of fun on a tangent analyzing how McAdam's character, Linda Liddle, would be judged as a contestant on the TV Show Survivor that this film takes a very cursory inspiration from. A bit more unusual than my standard...
075 - Roulette Reviews - Stranger Things 5 (Staying In Character) 18.01.2026 13:36
With Stranger Things coming to an end as a series, I do an analysis of the final season to discuss why I think it succeeds more than it fails. I mention some of the various issues that can make the final season feel rather rough around the edges at times, but how overall the series stays true to the characters it has made us grow to care about over the years. Agree? Disagree? At least willing to a...
074 - Roulette Recap - The 2025 Tier List 30.12.2025 18:37
Four years down, who knows how many to go? As is tradition, another year down means another tier list where I briefly review and rank all the films and series I've watched for the very first time in 2025. As is the case with prior versions of this tier list, the order I go through these and their relative rankings follow pretty closely to my own Letterboxd account, where I log these through th...
073 - Roulette Reviews - Wicked For Good (A Victim Of Its Source Material) 30.11.2025 7:03
On opening weekend, I saw the sequel to Wicked, Wicked For Good. And, overall, I liked it. However, as many fans of the play know, the second act (or, in this case the second film) is notably weaker than the first act. Though the film was very much enjoyable and done well, it could not escape a fate that it seemed predestined for. I discuss some of the reasons why the second film feels perhaps les...
072- Roulette Reviews - Ethical Scaring in Horror Films 30.10.2025 8:14
In this episode, I discuss what I think makes certain horror films stand above the rest. Namely, I compare reliance on jump-scares, short term shock, and knee-jerk sorts of film styles to the stat-padding which is often found in professional sports. Perhaps effective in the moment or from a bird's eye view, but ultimately a detriment to not only the individual culprit, but eventually the art f...
071 - Roulette Reviews - The Burden of Beasts (Dracula and Brave) 30.09.2025 7:35
In this video, I decide to get the ball rolling on the Halloween season a bit early. I discuss Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of Dracula with its star-studded cast, as well as a somewhat-slept on Pixar film that I recently watched for the first time. After watching each, I was struck by how both movies chose to depict the "monsters" they each featured. There was emphasis to varyin...
070 - Roulette Reviews - Weapons (Meaningfully Unsettling) 16.08.2025 7:04
This go around, I discuss Weapons, an all-around unsettling and eerie horror-thriller movie from the creator who brought us Barbarian. While I don't think I loved Weapons quite as much as I did Barbarian, there was still a lot to enjoy, mull over, and unpack after viewing. And of course this is on top of the great tension and scares that it created. I also discuss one of my least favorite topi...
069 (Nice) - Roulette Reviews - Fantastic Four: First Steps (Not So Fantastic) 30.07.2025 8:34
Last week, I saw the latest adaptation of Marvel's First Family. And, to be honest, I was pretty meh on it. I could certainly appreciate it, and understood that most of it was well done, but I just didn't connect to it in the same way I did with Superman recently. I talk about why this is in my review. Specifically, I mention the lack of character journeys from my point of view, and how th...
068 - Roulette Reviews - Superman (Shining Sincerity) 16.07.2025 7:17
Last weekend, I saw Superman. And I've been thinking about it, listening to its score, jamming to its soundtrack, and just really enjoying everything about it since then. I really enjoyed it for what it was: a movie that rejuvenated a character and brought some amazing energy to me as a viewer. In the review I discuss what in the movie worked so well for me, and why I hold this particular adap...
067 - Roulette Reviews - 28 Years Later (Movie or Montage?) 29.06.2025 7:48
Last week I saw 28 Years Later. Frankly, didn't love it. And this is despite really enjoying the original, 28 Days Later. Maybe I missed something in 28 Weeks Later? I dunno. I talk about what I think went wrong from my perspective in the film, citing some examples of shortcomings or parts of the movie that hold it back from being something more (or, in my opinion, better). Particularly some s...
066 - Roulette Reviews - Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (The Weight of Scale) 30.05.2025 9:14
This time on Roulette Reviews, I discuss the finale to what might be one of my favorite series of all time. Mission: Impossible constantly delivers top-notch action, and in many ways it did exactly that in its swan song. But, it was not without flaw, and I discuss what I felt didn't make it quite as spectacular as some of its predecessors, ranging from its villain to its pace. Still though, it...
065 - Roulette Reviews - The Thunderbolts (The Importance of Being Earnest) 21.05.2025 5:29
A few weeks back, I saw Thunderbolts. And, surprisingly, I really liked it. I can attribute a large part of my enjoyment to the film's sincerity in its ideas and its lack of fear when it comes to exploring those ideas. Though it isn't the first ensemble of misfits to come into a found family of sorts in the superhero genre, it does tread new ground. The emotional arcs it explores with its...
064 - Roulette Reviews - Sinners (Substance Informs Style) 25.04.2025 6:55
Much like many others, I really enjoyed Sinners. It was incredibly fun, approachable, but above all else just incredibly-well executed. I talk about it's blend of entertainment and depth, and how Ryan Coogler does this. Namely, I highlight a few narrative tools he takes advantage of. I also mentionhow some of the themes of the story inform the stylistic decisions that are made with camera, mus...
063 - Roulette Reviews - Severance S2 (Making The Most Dramatic Choice) 28.03.2025 10:02
In this video, I discuss season 2 of Severance and what I think is its guiding philosophy of always trying to make the most dramatic scenario possible for the progression of its narrative and the situations it puts its characters in. I talk about some examples of why this works and how this helps us as viewers connect with the series and its characters even further. Do you agree? Let me know in th...
062 - Roulette Reviews - Captain America: Brave New World (More Accurately...just "World") 21.02.2025 11:07
This past weekend I saw the new Captain America movie in theaters. And honestly, I was surprised by how...whelmed I was by it. It was not as bad as the collective of reviews would lead you to believe. But, it was by no means good either, even considering its obligations as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I discuss some core issues I think the film faces, which range from severe story struct...
061 - Roulette Reviews - Companion (The Valentine's Day Special) 14.02.2025 8:55
In this review, I reflect on how Companion manages to some very, very interesting thematic ideas while still being immensely entertaining. I also highlight how it uses believable and well-acted characters to help viewers move past its relatively crude premise. But, beyond that, this review is a celebration of Valentine's Day. So, if you're celebrating in any way at all, enjoy the day! If you're do...
Podcasts similaires
Replaio n'est pas éditeur de podcasts ; les noms des émissions, les visuels et l'audio appartiennent à leurs auteurs et sont diffusés via des flux RSS publics