Be Reel

Chance and Noah were reunited in Lincoln, Nebraska over the holidays, and three hours of it was spent watching Quentin Tarantino's new time-bomb of a bottle Western. With love for the performances and camera work, they dive into "The Hateful Eight", its narrative incongruities and they ask why his trademark ultra-violence doesn't work so well in the writer/director's eighth film. As always, a refresher on the rating system: Good-Good = High quality, high watchability (e.g. The Departed) Good-Bad = High quality, low watchability (e.g. Schindler's List) Bad-Good = Low quality, high watchability (e.g. Escape from LA) Bad-Bad = Low quality, low watchability (e.g. White Chicks) Follow Be Reel, Guys on Twitter at @bereelguys or write to us at bereelguys@gmail.com.

We love a good year-end list as much as the next people who begrudgingly buy into a completist mentality where art and entertainment are ranked. But you can read insightful lists everywhere online and a bunch of the movies on them aren't available to you yet. So, why not absurdly swing the other way? In this episode, we look back at the movies we didn't see in 2015 and review (and sorry about this number) 40 of them, based solely on their trailers. Let us help you pick what you'll half-watch on a Saturday in February from this at once surprising, mediocre and frustrating pool of 2015 movies.

Contemporary Christmas film has a real thing for the coal-getting kids. In our holiday episode, we take on three movies flipping the bird to seasonal propriety through partying, perfectionism and general Grinching. And yet, these films only exist and resolve themselves because of an eventual appreciation for tradition and familial embrace. We watched "The Night Before" (2015), "Christmas Vacation" (1989) and "Bad Santa" (2003). So be good, children, if just for a day. 10:30 - "The Night Before" 23:00 - "Christmas Vacation" 38:30 - "Bad Santa"

'Tis nearly the season to swap romance-devoid lives with someone halfway around the world. In this mini-episode, Noah and Chance discuss the 2006 Nancy Meyers film "The Holiday." Their actual holiday episode might be a little rougher, so here's one for those starry-eyed lovers with a real taste for rom-com tropes. As it turns out, that's only one of the hosts. As always, a refresher on the rating system: Good-Good = High quality, high watchability (e.g. The Departed) Good-Bad = High quality, low watchability (e.g. Schindler's List) Bad-Good = Low quality, high watchability (e.g. Escape from LA) Bad-Bad = Low quality, low watchability (e.g. White Chicks) Follow Be Reel, Guys on Twitter at @bereelguys or write to us at bereelguys@gmail.com.

A few times in recent Hollywood history, we've seen nearly identical movies come down the pipe in the same year. And over Thanksgiving weekend, Noah and Chance doubled their duty and watched six movies, three pairs of action movie twins. There's the gargantuan "Armageddon" and the trying-to-be-smarter "Deep Impact" that sent celestial killers toward earth in 1998. There's the 1997 volcano flicks, "Volcano" and "Dante's Peak" about civil servants fighting to save cities in denial from lava flows. And there's "Flightplan" and "Red Eye," which put unsuspecting women in danger during night-time plane rides in 2005. Welcome to the Megapod, folks. 3:30 - Armageddon 16:30 - Deep Impact 29:00 - Volcano 40:30 - Dante's Peak 53:30 - Flightplan 1:08:30 - Red Eye

Chance calls Noah, who's stranded in the Minneapolis airport, to talk about the new James Bond movie, "Spectre." They unpack its flaws and the larger problem of self-seriousness gone array in the Daniel Craig-led Bond films. As always, a refresher on the rating system: Good-Good = High quality, high watchability (e.g. The Departed) Good-Bad = High quality, low watchability (e.g. Schindler's List) Bad-Good = Low quality, high watchability (e.g. Escape from LA) Bad-Bad = Low quality, low watchability (e.g. White Chicks) Follow Be Reel, Guys on Twitter at @bereelguys or write to us at bereelguys@gmail.com.

It doesn't matter if you specialize in insurance, personal injury or petty naval law, Hollywood knows attorneys can do anything when the gavel starts pounding. We watched three movies about lawyers in way over their heads, fighting that good fight. Spielberg's new "Bridge of Spies" pits Tom Hanks against an amoral Cold War world. "My Cousin Vinny" (1992) plays politely with New York and Southern stereotypes in a half-comedic courtroom. And "A Few Good Men" (1992) is novice Sorkin set in screamy military court with a dynamite cast. Now, call your first witness! 5:00 - Bridge of Spies 21:00 - My Cousin Vinny 35:00 - A Few Good Men As always, a refresher on the rating system: Good-Good = High quality, high watchability (e.g. The Departed) Good-Bad = High quality, low watchability (e.g. Schindler's List) Bad-Good = Low quality, high watchability (e.g. Escape from LA) Bad-Bad = Low quality, low watchability (e.g. White Chicks) Follow Be Reel, Guys on Twitter at @bereelguys or write to us at bereelguys@gmail.c

Look — sometimes we want to bring you topical reviews, but want to save ourselves from watching three movies on a given topic, like say, the indoctrination of child soldiers. So, we bring you the first "Reeled In" mini-episode of the podcast. They'll be more of these bite-sized episodes to come, and for the first edition, we suffered with, or through, depending on which of us you ask, "Beasts of No Nation." That's the Netflix-released child solider movie, starring Idris Elba and directed by Cary Fukunaga. As always, a refresher on the rating system: Good-Good = High quality, high watchability (e.g. The Departed) Good-Bad = High quality, low watchability (e.g. Schindler's List) Bad-Good = Low quality, high watchability (e.g. Escape from LA) Bad-Bad = Low quality, low watchability (e.g. White Chicks) Follow Be Reel, Guys on Twitter at @bereelguys or write to us at bereelguys@gmail.com.

In light of Aaron Sorkin's new snapshot take on Steve Jobs, Noah and Chance watched three movies hinging on only a chapter (or so) of biography. They go back and forth on "Steve Jobs," though not on Michael Fassbender's riveting portrayal. Then, it's on to "Invictus" and "The Queen" to discuss the dangers of character sainthood and the difficulty of invoking characters' long pasts in their later years. Episode Sponsor: A List of Songs on Your First Generation iPod 5:00 - Steve Jobs 31:30 - Invictus 45:00 - The Queen

Humanity's laws and best interests be damned, let's go to space and see what happens when one person (but maybe robot) is stranded on a planet (but maybe moon.) Noah and Chance watched the biggest movie in the world, "The Martian," and parlayed that into a discussion of 2009's "Moon" and 2008's "Wall-E." Episode highlights include: a surprise visitor, Noah accusing Chance of being "a rube," and a discussion of Chance's written guide to Ridley Scott's later years. 7:30 - The Martian 29:30 - Moon 50:15 - Wall-e Good-Good = High quality, high watchability (e.g. The Departed) Good-Bad = High quality, low watchability (e.g. Schindler's List) Bad-Good = Low quality, high watchability (e.g. Escape from LA) Bad-Bad = Low quality, low watchability (e.g. White Chicks) Follow Be Reel, Guys on Twitter at @bereelguys or write to us at bereelguys@gmail.com.

Johnny Depp's acting career may be remembered most for the whimsical and fantastical roles via his Tim Burton partnership, but he's taken turns as three violent gangsters, as well. That's where we turn our steely gaze this week. The Whitey Bulger biopic "Black Mass" hit theaters this month, Depp portrayed an elusive John Dillinger in 2009's "Public Enemies," and 1997's "Donnie Brasco" is an underrated mob movie. Noah and Chance are joined on this week's podcast by film scholar and writer Murray Pomerance, who wrote the book "Johnny Depp Starts Here." 5:30 - Black Mass 33:00 - Donnie Brasco 1:00:30 - Public Enemies

Colleges are supposed to be among the most accepting and inclusive environments in the country, but this week, we focus on three fictional institutions that took it too far. Noah and Chance discuss three movies about "students" who are treading water, faking it or just want the trappings of university life. It's "22 Jump Street" (2014), "Old School" (2003) and "Van Wilder" (2002) taking their "Be Reel, Guys" exams. We pay special attention to their often dicey sexual politics and what exactly the movies find so halcyon about the college years. As always, a refresher on the rating system: Good-Good = High quality, high watchability (e.g. The Departed) Good-Bad = High quality, low watchability (e.g. Schindler's List) Bad-Good = Low quality, high watchability (e.g. Escape from LA) Bad-Bad = Low quality, low watchability (e.g. White Chicks) Follow Be Reel, Guys on Twitter at @bereelguys or write to us at bereelguys@gmail.com.

Noah and Chance watched three movies that, in their own ways, pull back some Hollywood veil. "Tropic Thunder" (2008) yells, shocks and offends its way to memorable moments of famous people doing insane things. Through a "sight" gag, Woody Allen's "Hollywood Ending" (2002) is an old artist's take on how the old studio system worked. And 2000's "State and Main" takes the writer's side in a story of seedy Hollywood meeting small-town America. As always, a refresher on the rating system: Good-Good = High quality, high watchability (e.g. The Departed) Good-Bad = High quality, low watchability (e.g. Schindler's List) Bad-Good = Low quality, high watchability (e.g. Escape from LA) Bad-Bad = Low quality, low watchability (e.g. White Chicks) Follow Be Reel, Guys on Twitter at @bereelguys or write to us at bereelguys@gmail.com.

It's ratings at all cost on this week's episode — Noah and Chance watched three movies where disturbed souls are anchoring TV shows against their own will or the network's better judgment. Through "The Truman Show" (1998), "Network" (1976) and "Welcome To Me" (2014), we trace the power of the 20th century media monster and ask when and how these movies may stop resonating. Plus, is "Truman Show" the best Jim Carrey performance? Can "Network" possibly hold up? And, can Kristen Wiig counterbalance a fatally under-equipped movie? As always, a refresher on the rating system: Good-Good = High quality, high watchability (e.g. The Departed) Good-Bad = High quality, low watchability (e.g. Schindler's List) Bad-Good = Low quality, high watchability (e.g. Escape from LA) Bad-Bad = Low quality, low watchability (e.g. White Chicks) Follow Be Reel, Guys on Twitter at @bereelguys or write to us at bereelguys@gmail.com.

Noah and Chance went to theaters to see the David Foster Wallace-portraying "The End of the Tour." Then, they watched two more movies — "The Hours" (2002) and "Howl" (2010) — about famous authors struggling with their art, the people reading it and themselves. Follow us on Twitter at @bereelguys or write to bereelguys@gmail.com.

Strap on your pack and let's go on a long and arduous hike together through three movies about characters finding themselves amid outdoor obstacles. Noah and Chance discuss "Wild" (2014), "Into The Wild" (2007), and "127 Hours" (2010). But, for godsake, tell someone where you're going. Follow us on Twitter at @bereelguys or write to bereelguys@gmail.com *This episode of Be Reel Guys is brought to you by Your Nearest City Park.

In this episode, Noah and Chance watched a trio of thrillers about falsely accused murderers. First, a long and confusing conversation about the long and confusing 2014 film adaptation of "Gone Girl." Then, a celebration of 1993's "The Fugitive" and Harrison Ford's mid-late-career desperation turn. Finally, a review of a regular basic cable customer, 1998's "The Negotiator." They all didn't kill ... somebody! Follow and reach Noah and Chance at @bereelguys on Twitter and at bereelguys@gmail.com.

The release of Amy Schumer's "Trainwreck" is the latest example of an acclaimed TV persona trying to jump to the big screen and mass appeal. In this episode, Noah and Chance review "Trainwreck" and evaluate how that first starring film role went (or if it even mattered) for Tina Fey and Jennifer Aniston. Follow us on Twitter at @bereelguys or email bereelguys@gmail.com. "Trainwreck" (2015) "Baby Mama" (2008) "Picture Perfect" (1997)

Say, what's on your mind? Your cute, anthropomorphic feelings? Yourself as both a little boy and a baroque demon? Precious relationship memories disappearing in reverse? Noah and Chance are back from the summer holidays reviewing three movies set inside the mind: Pixar's new "Inside Out," the 2004 cult hit "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and 2000's horrifying, JLo-led "The Cell."

This episode is certain to drive kids out of their minds! Chance and Noah attempt to patent, package and slap their opinions on a proverbial lunch box by breaking down the watchability of the Jurassic Park sequels--including "Jurassic World." And the results are as carnage-filled as The San Diego Incident. Don't miss Chance's defensiveness when his child-like wonder is threatened or the boys' rant about how Bryce Dallas Howard gets shamed for being a woman with a serious job in this podcast 65 million years in the making!