Reel Chums

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the ultimate 90s blockbuster, Independence Day! This week, we discuss why this film was "lightning in a bottle" for director Roland Emmerich and how it solidified Will Smith as a global superstar. We break down the groundbreaking practical effects—from the 1/12th scale White House explosion to the "genius" vertical fireball technique—that we ar...

"We are not alone." 🛸 This week on Reel Chums, we discuss Steven Spielberg’s 1977 masterpiece, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. While Danny experiences the film for the first time, Marcel discovers a heartbreaking new perspective: viewing this "hopeful" sci-fi as a parent transforms it into a profound family tragedy. In this episode, we discuss: - The Tragedy of Roy Neary:...

Chad Stahelski says there's "not much of a story" in John Wick — and somehow that's exactly why it works. We close out our month of Kung Fu with John Wick: Chapter 4, breaking down the location-first filmmaking, Dan Laustsen's gorgeous cinematography, the legendary staircase sequence, and why this franchise nails everything Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning fumbled. P...

The Mandalorian & Grogu hit theaters and we had... complicated feelings. We both enjoyed it — the action sequences slap, Ludwig Göransson's score is genuinely stunning, but walking out, we couldn't shake one big question: why does this movie exist? In this episode, we break down what works (Mando's action set pieces, the elevated cinematic feel, Grogu stepping up in his own armor)...

This week, we’re breaking down the biggest movies of Summer 2026—ranking every major release, predicting box office hits and flops, and sharing what we’re most (and least) excited for. From blockbuster franchises to sleeper picks, this is your ultimate summer movie guide! Signup for our newsletter: https://reel-chums.ck.page/86dfa15953📹 Follow us on socials for updates and more:Reel Chums Instagr...

Face/Off is one of the most beloved action movies of the 1990s. It also has a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes — higher than John Wick, higher than Interstellar, and somehow higher than The Matrix. Marcel discovered this while rewatching it for Gun-Fu Month and immediately had an existential crisis. Danny didn't feel much better about it. This week on Reel Chums, we dig into John Woo's 1997 action s...

Terry Gilliam's Brazil is one of the strangest, funniest, and most unsettling dystopian films ever made — and it's never felt more relevant. This week, Danny and Marcel close out Dystopian Film Month with the 1985 masterpiece, and they have a lot to say. In this episode: the retrofuturistic production design that still holds up 40 years later, Jonathan Pryce's quietly devastating performance as Sa...

We're discussing everything we’ve been watching lately—from revisiting classic James Bond (and why Timothy Dalton might be underrated 👀) to the return of Daredevil and some surprising new shows that caught us off guard. We also get into a bigger conversation about reality TV—who are shows like The Voice really for, and why are they still everywhere? Plus: hidden gems, quick hits, and a few hot ta...

We’re back! In this episode, we break down the biggest moments from the Oscars 2026 — including major wins, surprises, and snubs. Plus, we dive into the latest movie news, from Mandalorian & Grogu to DC’s Lanterns and more. Let’s talk movies!📹 Follow us on socials for updates and more:Reel Chums Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelchums/Rubio's Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/Rubio_tv⁠Marc...

This week, we revisit V for Vendetta (2006) and ask the big question: is V a hero, a terrorist, or something in between? We explore the film’s themes of fear, freedom, identity, and revolution — and why its political message feels even more relevant nearly 20 years later. We also break down Hugo Weaving’s iconic performance behind the mask, Natalie Portman’s powerful character arc, and the filmmak...

In this episode, we discuss and review Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men. We break down one of the most technically ambitious films of the 21st century — a dystopian thriller that feels less like science fiction and more like a warning. We dig into Cuarón's career trajectory and why this film's box office disappointment may have permanently changed the kinds of stories he's willing...

In this episode, we kick off our month of dystopian films with Gary Ross's The Hunger Games. We break down what might be the ultimate "we know it's gonna be good but we don't know it's gonna be good" studio movie — a film with a great first hour that struggles to maintain that energy once the games actually begin. We dig into why the script fails Katniss and Peeta in the...

This week on What We’re Watching, we’re all over the map — in the best way possible. Marcel is obsessed with the wildly underrated Polite Society (Scott Pilgrim meets martial arts meets… something darker), Danny rewatched Predator: Badlands, and we dive deep into the surprisingly emotional and grounded Marvel series Wonder Man — which might just be the best Marvel TV since Loki. We also break down...

This week we're diving into Paul Thomas Anderson's latest masterpiece, One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn. This film is a technical marvel and storytelling triumph that balances intense action with surprising comedy and heart. We kick things off with a hot take about the Oscar nominations (spoiler: we're not mourning Wicked's absence), then spend the...

In this episode, we discuss and review Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme . We break down Safdie’s anxiety-fueled character study starring Timothée Chalamet as Marty Reisman — a hustler driven less by table tennis and more by obsession, notoriety, and recognition. We dive into whether the film’s marketing helped or hurt audience expectations, why Marty is intentionally unlikeable, and how the movie subve...

In this episode, we're discussing "What We’ve Been Watching'! We break down a few of the shows we’ve been spending time with lately — what’s working, what surprised us, and who we think each show is actually for. This week, we dive into: -A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – a lighter, comedic take on the Game of Thrones universe with stunning cinematography and a great entry point for ne...

This week, we are talking about the latest news regarding Lucasfilm and its new Co-Presidents, Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. Is this a new era of storytelling we want? Or are we entering a cautious era of storytelling? Let us know your thoughts!

Welcome to Season 4 of Reel Chums! We're kicking things off with our BIGGEST episode of the year - the Best and Worst of 2025, as voted on by YOU and discussed by us! We discuss every major category from the past year, including the best Star Wars content (Andor Season 2 dominated!), the ups and downs of the MCU, the best and worst movies and TV shows, and so much more. From Sinners and One Ba...

Signup for our newsletter: https://reelchums.com/newsletterIt’s the Season 3 finale of Reel Chums! After a chaotic end-of-year rush, we are back behind the mics to wrap the season with a laid-back, unfiltered chat about everything we’ve been watching — and everything happening in Hollywood right now. In this episode, we discuss:🎬 Why Scream 3 got scrapped (…it just wasn’t worth a full episode)🌪️...

This week, we discussing M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin — a home invasion thriller that tests faith, choice, and the limits of storytelling inside four claustrophobic walls. We talk about Dave Bautista’s powerhouse performance, the genius of M. Night’s storyboarding, and why this might secretly be one of his most technically impressive films to date. We also get real about the themes of b...

Signup for our newsletter: https://reelchums.com/newsletterWhat an incredible conversation this was. We are kicking off our month of thrillers with Ryan Coogler's *Sinners*, and honestly, this film reignited why we started this podcast in the first place. Danny retells his first time viewing the movie in a hospital room after his wife gave birth - he had just caught their baby that morning. Si...

This week we're diving into Source Code (2011), the Jake Gyllenhaal sci-fi thriller you all voted for! We initially questioned why this movie won over Nightcrawler and Prisoners, but by the end, we found ourselves pleasantly surprised by this tight 90-minute time loop film. We discuss Jake's performance, the powerful themes about military sacrifice and government overreach, and how Duncan...

Signup for our newsletter: https://reelchums.com/newsletterWe're wrapping up our MCU Spider-Man trilogy discussion with an in-depth analysis of "Spider-Man: No Way Home." Four years after its release, Marcel and I examine how this multiverse spectacle works as both a satisfying conclusion to Tom Holland's origin story and a product of its pandemic-era production challenges. We di...

Signup for our newsletter: https://reelchums.com/newsletterThis week, we continue our discussion of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man with Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019). We break down Mysterio’s illusions, the balance of teen comedy and superhero  spectacle, and how the themes of misinformation and illusion continue to resonate today.📹 Follow us on socials for updates and more:Reel Chums Instagram: htt...

Signup for our newsletter: https://reelchums.com/newsletterWelcome back to another episode of Reel Chums, where chatting about movies feels like hanging out with friends! This week, Marcel and Mike kick off their deep dive into the MCU Spider-Man trilogy with 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming, directed by Jon Watts. Join us as we explore Tom Holland's debut as the web-slinger in this John Hugh...