The Playlist Podcast Network

If you don't know the 1782 French novel “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” don't feel bad. It's far more likely you know the films it inspired: "Dangerous Liaisons" (1988), "Valmont" (1989) and "Cruel Intentions" (1999). This week on Be Reel, Noah and Chance revisit all three stories of high-court treachery and conquest with the help of film critic Abbey Bender (Village Voice, Time Out New York). The sex...

Erik and Joe discuss Gaspar Noe's latest, Climax.

Indie Beat - Iman Zawahry by The Playlist

On a new BE REEL, Noah and Chance take on sports movies where the most important games are played in offices. Starting with the slick, provoking new Steven Soderbergh film "High Flying Bird" and its critique of the NBA, the pod then revisits the statistical revolutions of "Moneyball" and the racial profiteering of "The Great White Hype." Be Reel is brought to you by the by California College of th...

Though the Columbian crime epic “Birds of Passage” finds its shape in familiar gangster arcs, its approach to depicting the South American drug trade is one of lyricism and embedded observation of the indigenous Wayuu people. Listen as our Chance Solem-Pfeifer speaks to co-director Cristina Gallego about her latest film with creative partner Ciro Guerra, following on from the Oscar-nominated “Embr...

Joe and Erik champion two small releases hit this week: Birds of Passage and Donnybrook.

Joe and Erik discuss two new movies that show the dexterity of modern horror in Piercing and Velvet Buzzsaw.

The best way to avoid Gene Hackman screaming at you is to listen to Chance Solem-Pfeifer and Noah Ballard celebrate the all-time great actor's 89th birthday on a new Be Reel. This week, they analyze three of his most memorable antagonists in "Superman: The Movie" (1978), "Unforgiven" (1992) and "The Firm" (1993), and then spotlight some favorites from deeper in Hackman's 50-year career. Be Reel is...

While the future of Marvel Netflix's The Punisher remains to be seen, that hasn't stopped showrunner Steve Lightfoot from staying optimistic about continuing the journey of Frank Castle. Lightfoot is currently the showrunner of The Punisher, which is now entering its second season, and also has made notable contributions as a writer and producer on NBC's Hannibal and Netflix's Narcos. I recently s...

On a new BE REEL, Chance and Noah try to make sense of M. Night Shyamalan's Eastrail 177 trilogy beginning with 2000's "Unbreakable," picking up steam with 2017's "Split," and culminating in the new ostensibly thoughtful comic-book riff "Glass." Spoilers abound, obviously. And Guardian contributor Zach Vasquez joins the show to discuss his new essay: "Shattered Glass: why we need to stop deconstru...

Ryan and Managing Editor Charles Barfield dive into the aftermath of the 2018 Fall/Winter moviegoing season at the box office, discuss what trends have emerged, who was successful, and who bit the dust.

On this episode of Be Reel, Noah Ballard and Chance Solem-Pfeifer look for a way through the newly released "Escape Room" and discuss two of its thrilling enclosed-space predecessors in 2002's "Panic Room" and the 1954 classic "Rear Window.”

Indie Beat - Patrick Wang by The Playlist

Joe and Erik dig into their favorite films and cinematic moments of the year, listing their top 10s and also digging in more depth to review the glorious new film If Beale Street Could Talk.

Ryan, Editor-in-Chief Rodrigo Perez, and Managing Editor Charles Barfield rundown The Playlist's collective picks for the Best Breakthrough Directors of 2018.

On this episode of BE REEL, Chance and Noah look back at the comedy films of 2018, examining different branches of the industry tree via specific titles: BLOCKERS for traditional studio fare (14:20), EIGHTH GRADE for the upstart indie (32:15), and SET IT UP for Netflix's full-on foray into rom-coms (48:00). Finally, they name their five favorite comedy performances of the year from films like GAME...

Lebanese actor/filmmaker Nadine Labaki speaks with our Chance Solem-Pfeifer about her new film “Capernaum,” out Dec. 14 in some US cities. The Golden Globe-nominated drama follows a 12-year-old boy trying to preserve his biological and chosen families amid Lebanon’s refugee crisis. Press play to hear Labaki discuss how her young star is dealing with the movie’s reception and how life and art inter...

It's not often you get to meet the director of one of your favorite films of all time, and it's equally as gratifying to discover that they are exactly as you imagined. Peter Jackson is a man who needs little to no introduction being the master world builder that he is and the visionary filmmaker behind the "Lord of the Rings" Trilogy. He also has managed to place himself at the forefront of cutti...

Joe and Erik connect their HOLD UP pick (Spike Lee's 25th Hour) with the new release Vox Lux.

Hugo Weaving is one of the most versatile actors working today, and one thing’s for certain: he sure makes a damn good villain. Having cemented himself in pop culture with such iconic roles as Agent Smith in The Matrix trilogy, Elrond in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, V in V for Vendetta and the Red Skull in Captain America: The First Avenger, the 58-year old Australian actor cont...

In the Playlist debut of "Be Reel," genre-hopping podcast hosts Chance Solem-Pfeifer and Noah Ballard dive into the career of screenwriting titan William Goldman, who passed away last month at age 87. They revisit his major works like “The Princess Bride,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “All The President’s Men,” and Slate’s Marissa Martinelli joins the program to discuss the far deeper...

Indie Beat - Jourdain Searles by The Playlist

Joe and Erik get excited for more auteur-driven Netflix movies finding some theatrical release in Buster Scruggs and Roma.

Joe and Erik discuss two of the best films of 2018, The Favourite and Shoplifters.

Erik and Joe discuss and argue over three new challenging arthouse titles in theaters Border, Burning and Suspria.