Spinning the Reel

We did it! Hooray! The boys have made it to the BIG 50th episode. They take a segment to reflect on this wild and wacky adventure as well as where they see things going moving forward. In the spirit of 50, Cody has brought back Conner to go head to head against Evan in a new game called 50/50.  To kick of the start of the month and continue with a bang, the boys tackle and bring back a favori...

The boys are back and tackling a double feature. Speaking of being back at it, America has once again been graced by the number 4 journalist in all of Kazakhstan. Borat is back and up to his same antics in his 'Borat Subsequent MovieFilm.' There is no mute button on this back and forth conversation. Evan then brings the game, 'On the Fence,' in lieu of what has felt like an endless 2020. Can Cody...

Aaron Sorkin is back at it again with another well scripted film, 'The Trial of the Chicago 7.' The boys then make their case for and against the scribe's sophomore directorial effort. Evan goes on his longest uninterrupted speech to date as he checks in from the virtual AFI Festival, highlighting some of the standout films. All is wrapped up with case E48- Based on true story films vs. documentar...

Spooky season is officially here on the pod in 2020 and it all starts with Adam Sandler's new Netflix release 'Hubie Halloween.' Evan is put to the test with a version of the game 20 questions about dynamic movie duos. And yes, it is still 2020 and it is still quarantine, so Evan and Cody get you up to speed on some shows and movies that you should be watching.  (0:00) - Intro  (3:23) -...

1 year into the podcast and not much has changed. We start with a review of the most recent Netflix release 'Dick Johnson is Dead.' Jumping then right into a classic game we like to play as we each draft our most anticipated films to come. Only to be finished by Evan falling through the looking glass as Cody interrupts and brings up the capitalism talk as the boys discuss 2020 as of date for if th...

The boys find themselves all over the place in this episode, but that may be symbolic of the film they are discussing: "Unpregnant." Just like the film, we guarantee* it will be fun. Evan puts Cody to the test with the Cinephile card game. We close things out with a hopefully hopeful look at films still slated to release in 2020. Evan discusses his plans to attend the virtual AFI Festival.  *...

Check out our newly minted site Another Wednesday on the pod has Evan doing his thing with his rants, tangents, and anti-capitalist talk. We kick it off with our discussion of the most recent Netflix release 'The Devil All the Time.' Cody brings the heat with a new game called "Remembering the Times," in which, Evan's knowledge of film length is put to the test.  The podcast finishes up with...

Evan is back and there is no reason to be excited about that. What is exciting is the contentious discussion on why the new release of 'Mulan' is nothing short of a Disney cash grab and a foot in the wrong direction for animated remakes. After the two duke it out, a "Battle of  the Sides," is played. Will Mushu reign supreme? Why does Evan hate Olaf? Rounding it all up is a discussion on 'I'm...

Cody was left to fend for himself with Evan on vacation. But that didn't stop him from keeping things spinning as he brought in long time friend Conner. The boys start off by discussing 'Overlord' and its special appeal to our STR guest. The fun goes on with another sequel game from Season 1 , "Not to Conner's Netflix Knowledge." All wrapped up nicely with some nerding out over the use of CGI in f...

Cody has his trial run at hosting the pod as the boys travel back to talk Bill & Ted. After agreeing to be excellent to one another, they carry that energy into the life, tragic death and ultimate legacy of Chadwick Boseman. Finally, the boys return to the B&TCU and tickle their funny bones with Bill & Ted Face the Music. This is a most BODACIOUS episode!   (0:00) - Intro&nbs...

The lack of theatrical releases has led to a sequel of 'A Disney Pod for a Disney Boy.' But not before we reaffirm our support for the BLM movement in the wake of yet another unwarranted police shooting. This week we talk about the most recent Disney+ release; 'The One and Only Ivan,' we see that the boys don't see eye to eye.  After that things get silly again with the sequel game from Seaso...

The boys are back for a quick but contentious episode. This week we're talking about the stunning new A24/Apple documentary 'Boys State.' We discuss the doc as reflection of American politics and how its form helps its storytelling mission. After that we butt heads over when to return to theaters and what upcoming films have us most excited. (0:00) - Intro (3:27) - Boys State (36:19) - Future of f...

After a restful week off the boys are back to take a bite out of the new Seth Rogen comedy 'An American Pickle.' We then play a game, called Pickle That!,  about the many recent streaming releases. Finally we talk about Mulan's Disney+ release and what it might mean for the future of theaters and film distribution. (0:00) - Intro (2:51) - An American Pickle (23:29) - Game: Pickle That! (41:26...

After a week off, the boys are back with special guest Sean! Today the crew is talking about the biggest movie in America right now: The Kissing Booth 2. Did it make us laugh? Did it make us cry? Did it make us want to bleed out? After that its a quick discussion of NBC/Universal's new streaming service Peacock, as well as some other odds and ends. (0:00) - Intro (2:35) - The Kissing Booth 2 (32:1...

Feels like we've been here before. The boys dive into the biggest streaming release of last week: 'Palm Springs.' Cody and Evan talk about the dynamics of time loops in the film, how it refreshes the genre and how timely the release is. The game segment returns for a second week in a row with "The Endless Cycle." Finally, the boys dig into their top 10 most rewatchable films.  (0:00) - Intro...

Cody's dream comes true as the boys dedicate an entire episode to Disney. The good, the bad and the Artemis Fowl. They talk about the wildly varied content being released on Disney+ and Evan must grapple with the number of Disney films he's watched in quarantine. Stick around to the very end for a surprise ;) (0:00) - Intro (3:41) - Artemis Fowl and Hamilton (33:16) - Countdown: Disney Edition (40...

Zach joins once again to close out the 1940s Decade Project. This week it's not one, but two classic films from the 1940s as the boys discuss audience choices: Casablanca and Bicycle Thieves. (0:00) - Intro (2:53) - Casablanca (27:06) - Bicycle Thieves (43:04) - Project Wrap-Up/Close Original Riffs by Sean Doyel ----- Follow us and interact on our social media pages! @spinningthereel

Zach joins us once again for week 3 of the Decades Project and his pick: 1946's The Big Sleep. The conversation gets contentious as the 3 hosts finally have a film they disagree on. But first, the boys discuss the recent announcement that national theater chains would be reopening in July. Be sure to watch *both* Bicycle Thieves and Casablanca for next week's big finale of the Decades Project. Eac...

Special guest host Zach joins the boys as they continue the Decades Project with Evan's pick: 1948's The Red Shoes. But before that the whole crew opines on the newest Spike Lee joint: Da 5 Bloods. Be sure to vote in our polls -- @spinningthereel on both twitter and Instagram -- to determine the final film of our Decades Project! (0:00) - Intro  (2:45) - Da 5 Bloods  (32:34) - Decades Pr...

A bit of a heavy episode this week as the boys reconvene to express their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Both Evan and Cody stand in solidarity with the protesters marching to eliminate the systemic racism in America in the wake of George Floyd's murder. Resources to support the BLM movement will be posted below. After that, the Decades Project officially begins with 1940's The Great...

The boys show some love for Kumail Nanjiani and his recent stable of romantic comedies. They start out with a discussion of The Lovebirds and why it may be a perfect fit for Netflix. Next the boys pop back in time to talk about the last time Kumail and director Michael Showalter combined forces: 2017s delightful The Big Sick. Finally they talk about Warner Media's entry into the streaming game wit...

The boys are back to discuss their participation in the Little Woods live watch. After that its catch up on everything they've been watching in the last few weeks of lockdown. Finally, an announcement about a new podcast segment coming in June. (0:00) - Intro (3:05) - Little Woods (21:27) - Did You Catch That? (38:32) - Decades Project (45:04) - Close Original Riffs by Sean Doyel ----- Follow us a...

With a dearth of new films being released the boys decide to dive into the oeuvre of a young director discussed on last week's pod. That's right, we're spinning the reel on Academy Award winner Damien Chazelle. Evan and Cody discuss Chazelle's 3 big films; Whiplash, La La Land and First Man. (0:00) - Intro (4:45) - Whiplash (24:00) - La La Land (38:24) - First Man (1:01:00) - Close Original Riffs...

"Bad Education" is based on the true story of high school superintendent Frank Tassone. The film explores Tassone's involvement in the largest public school embezzlement in U.S. history. Both hosts agree that it is a well crafted, shot, and acted film exploring issues of entitlement and delusion. But the boys dive into how much sympathy, if any, should be felt for Frank himself after the dominos h...

The boys are back and talking... screenwriting? We dive into the last decade of Aaron Sorkin's career covering The Social Network, Moneyball, Steve Jobs and Molly's Game. All except Moneyball are available right now on Netflix. (0:00) - Intro (5:15) - Aaron Sorkin the Writer (9:00) - The Social Network (28:18) - Moneyball (42:12) - Steve Jobs (53:44) - Molly's Game (1:13:09) - Close Original Riffs...