Episodes
Friday Jan 05, 2024
#116 - 2023 Year in Review
Friday Jan 05, 2024
Friday Jan 05, 2024
We returned from an 11-month break for a wine-fuelled in-person recording of our lowly anticipated Year in Review episode.
From epic highs to disastrous lows, 2023 was a challenging year for compulsive consumers of media content.
We reveal our favourite TV and film of the year and look back in anger at our biggest disappointments.
With shocking and divisive choices, this may be the most unique Best of 2023 list in the world.
Friday Feb 17, 2023
#115 - Tár
Friday Feb 17, 2023
Friday Feb 17, 2023
James annoys people by walking past them, and Dan falls into a mobile game spending trap. Only content can save us.
Babylon and 1923 offer entertainment from the roaring twenties - but James doesn't give roaring reviews. Dan finds Search Party and gets on board the latest Gerard Butler vehicle, Plane.
In Reel News - can Paul Walker and the DC Universe be brought back to life?
Some things in life are certain: Death, taxes and Cate Blanchett's good acting. Tár is no expectation. It is a film of such high quality that the podcast gets into an honest and serious discussion about intention and theme.
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
#114 - White Noise
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
We're back! After an extended, unprecedented and uncommunicated break, we return to your ear holes to bring you the low down on what early 2023 has to offer. As is customary, we offer a wide range of suggestions from UK/Nordic crime dramas, to Japanese love stories and beyond!
Elsewhere, Reel News leaves us pondering the reasons why Avatar: The Way of Water has overshadowed Top Gun: Maverick's box office performance and we also discuss the practicalities and necessity of a Michael Jackson Biopic.
To wrap things up in a tidy Post-Christmas bow, Netflix's White Noise takes centre stage as our main review. An overlooked masterpiece? An utter waste of your time? Tune in to be completley confused by the answer and ultimately arrive at no decision.
Saturday Dec 31, 2022
#113 - 2022 Year in Review
Saturday Dec 31, 2022
Saturday Dec 31, 2022
From epic highs to disastrous lows, 2022 was a challenging year for compulsive consumers of media content.
In this special episode, we reveal our favourite TV and film of the year and look back in anger at our biggest disappointments.
With shocking and obscure choices, this may be the most unique Best of 2022 list in the world.
Sunday Dec 25, 2022
#112 - Christmas / Bah Humbug Special
Sunday Dec 25, 2022
Sunday Dec 25, 2022
The festive period is upon us so we thought we'd gift you a bonus episode minus the usual review trimmings. Instead we discuss Christmas traditions, play some non Christmas related film games and wrap things up with a 'Guess that Christmas film' quiz, just to ensure we aren't guilty of false advertising.
Speaking of misleading people, the word 'special' implies this episode is going to be something great! Apologies in advance....
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
#111 - Triangle of Sadness
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
Put on the heating, grab a hot chocolate and slip on your comfiest slippers, its time to settle down for your favourite entertainment podcast. As Britain braces itself for the big freeze, we highlight some of the latest content that is sure to warm your cockles. James presents a triangle of streaming shows including She Said, The Menu and Bastard!! Heavy metal, Dark Fantasy. Meanwhile Dan reviews cosy crime drama Three Pines and relationship drama Tell Me Lies.
In the world of Reel news, the Golden Globes returns with some surprising nominations, Avatar gets positive early reviews and Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman future looks to be in peril under James Gunn's DC reign.
For our main review we pivot away from typical blockbusters to filmmaking originality and award winning success as we discuss a film that the majority of people are unlikely to go and see. Triangle of Sadness scored big at the Cannes film festival this year winning the coveted Palme D'or but is it just another tedious art house film? Or is perhaps worth altering your cinema going habits to give way to something a bit different?
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
#110 - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
Dan gets a new TV, James gets a new coat, both consume newly approved content.
James hopes for magic with Disenchanted, and enjoys Emily Blunt in The English. Dan supports disgraced man James Corden by watching Mammals, and returns to paradise for season two of The White Lotus.
In Reel News, Arnold Schwarzenegger is removed from the Internet, Netflix mix up their episode order, and The Hollywood Reporter appears to say, "Please, please keep watching Marvel and Star Wars content."
The main review is MCU 30: Phase Four 7: Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever.
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
Episode 109 - Barbarian
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
This week we spend a significant amount of time discussing mobile game Marvel Snap, impulse haircuts, and just how long it takes to get treated in children's A&E. Then, we realised we are a film and TV podcast and quickly pivot to discussing BBC's Am I being Unreasonable, Amazon's The Peripheral, Weird: The Al Yankovich Story and finally The Devil's Hour a show that not enough people are watching!
In Reel News if you were left wanting more from Netflix controversial yet much watched drama Dahmer, you're in luck as another 2 seasons appear to be on their way. Elsewhere we discuss the sad passing of some people's only true Batman Kevin Conroy. We also react to Henry Cavil's return as Superman as he turns his back on The Witcher Series.
For our main review, one of us is qualified to review it because they stayed awake for its entire runtime, the other is just wasting everybody's time. It's time to dig into the horror hit Barbarian.
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Episode 108 - Halloween Ends
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Monday Oct 31, 2022
All Hallows' Eve brings sinister forces to the podcast. Can this week's content save the hosts from doom?
Dan reviews horror hit Smile and not-so-true crime story The Watcher. James reviews German historical drama The Empress, Apple TV's Bad Sisters, and the number one movie in the world, Black Adam.
Reel News uncovers new Exorcist, DC Comics and Avatar content. But does anyone care?
What is Evil? Who is evil? Why is evil? Those are the questions that Halloween Ends takes a stab at answering. Does that give us a good horror film? It's complicated.
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Episode 107 - Blonde
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Monday Oct 10, 2022
As the British pound plummets, we take comfort in the comparatively encouraging rise of streaming content available. Sticking with the theme of economic uncertainty James reviews the HBO and BBC collaboration Industry as it enters its sophomore season and delivers his thoughts on Amanda Seyfried's impressive turn as Elizabeth Holmes in The Dropout. Elsewhere Dan takes on the responsibility of reviewing the latest Star Wars universe offering, Andor as well as mildly condemning Steven Moffat's latest TV show Inside Man.
Reel News features a frustratingly ungrateful William Shatner, a much hated Chris Pratt and a collective recognition that most actors don't wish to consume their own work.
Finally, our main review is a film that has dominated headlines in recent weeks, for all the wrong reasons! Despite receiving a 14 minute standing ovation at the Venice film festival, Andrew Dominik's Blonde seems to have fallen foul when it comes to critical consensus but even the majority of everyday Joe's/Jane's seem to hate it too. Is it really as reprehensible as everybody is saying?
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Episode 106 - Three Thousand Years of Longing
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
We discuss shopping etiquette with your partner, and Dan reveals his very specific bathing requirements.
A mostly positive watchlist features Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Devil in Ohio, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Welcome to Wrexham, and Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
Reel News covers the two hottest topics in "the biz" - Harry Styles' spit and the new Cloverfield Sequel.
Three Thousand Years of Longing is a box office flop and reviews are mixed. We let the genie out of the bottle and took a look for ourselves, then wished we hadn't.
Monday Sep 12, 2022
Episode 105 - Top Gun: Maverick
Monday Sep 12, 2022
Monday Sep 12, 2022
This week we dig into the latest that streaming services have to offer, alongside some that have flown under the radar. James reviews Under the Banner of Heaven and The Lord of the Rings: The Ring of Power. Meanwhile Dan gives his thoughts on The Resort and Fall, a film that will likely not draw a box office crowd, but does it deserve to?
Reel News focuses in on the recent purge of negative reviews for Amazon's most expensive show of all time and we give credence to the rumour that Taika Waititi may not be retuning for another Thor instalment.
For our main review, in the absence of anything worth our time, we resort to a film that's been out for months but still shows no signs of running out of fuel. Tom Cruise is back in the cockpit for Top Gun: Maverick.
Monday Aug 29, 2022
Episode 104 - Nope
Monday Aug 29, 2022
Monday Aug 29, 2022
The boys try to have the most boring conversation ever about Netflix audio levels. Dan praises Predator prequel Prey, and recommends Apple TV's Five Days at Memorial. James reviews Red Rose, From and She-Hulk.
In Reel News, it's good news for House of the Dragon but Cineworld and The Caped Crusader are in trouble.
Jordan Peele's latest Neo-western sci-fi horror Nope is the main review.
Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
Episode 103 - Bullet Train
Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
In this public transport themed special we choo choose to talk about a wide range of content. The first stop is 'What we've been watching' which includes Colin Farrell and Viggo Mortensen's attempt to rescue Thirteen Lives and Alex Garland's polarising horror film Men. Meanwhile on an alternative platform James discusses his underwhelming reception to The Sandman but finds joy in the Alicia Vikander's Irma Vep.
Next, we veer off track and pull into the Reel News station to breakdown Warner Bros' cancellation of the film nobody knew existed, Batgirl. And, as we approach the end of the line, we maintain full steam ahead for this weeks main review, Brad Pitt's latest action film, Bullet Train. Is it worth purchasing a ticket for the ride? You'll have to climb aboard to find out....
Monday Aug 01, 2022
Episode 102 - Brian and Charles
Monday Aug 01, 2022
Monday Aug 01, 2022
With the UK heatwave a distant melting memory, attentions turns to the last sizzling hot content. Including: The Gray Man, Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special, Bosch: Legacy, Black Bird, and sleeper hit horror film The Black Phone.
A long - some might say rambling - edition of Reel News focuses on the supposed decline of Netflix and their looming content crisis.
Everyone has felt lonely at some point in their lives. Eating lunch by yourself, joining an empty Call of Duty lobby, we've all been there. But have you ever been so isolated that you built a robot using a washing machine and a mannequin head? That is the story of Brian and Charles, a lovely British comedy with a heart of silicon.
Monday Jul 18, 2022
Episode 101 - Thor: Love and Thunder
Monday Jul 18, 2022
Monday Jul 18, 2022
As record breaking temperatures continue to sweep the UK, we head on indoors to escape the sunshine rays and instead soak up the glorious world of film and TV. James has a plethora of content this week, from the stop motion spectacular Mad God through to a cinematic indictment of the adult entertainment industry with Pleasure. Then its over to Paramount+ as Beavis and Butthead Do the Universe
Meanwhile Dan wears his Big Boys pants to review Channel 4's Big Boys... and also gives his thoughts on Netflix's Girl in The Picture. Then to round of our watchlist we deliver our final thoughts on Stranger Things and The Boys which have just wrapped up their respective seasons.
Reel News is very Marvel centric and only serves as a way to build up to our main review. This week its the film that everybody has a varying opinion on, its Thor: Love and Thunder. Is it worth a trip out to your local cinema or is this just more proof that phase 4 of the MCU has become a bit lacklustre.
Monday Jun 27, 2022
Episode 100 - Jurassic World: Dominion
Monday Jun 27, 2022
Monday Jun 27, 2022
We celebrate reaching 100 episodes by botching the intro but then delivering high quality comments on a wide range of media including; We Own This City, Sherwood, The Midwich Cuckoos, Stranger Things, and The Boys.
In Reel News, we react to the early reactions to Thor: Love and Thunder, and react with both confusion and anticipation to news of the Joker sequel being a musical starring Lady Gaga.
Jurassic World: Dominion is upon us and as a great character in a classic film once said, "That is one big pile of sh*t."
Monday Jun 13, 2022
Episode 99 - Everything Everywhere All at Once
Monday Jun 13, 2022
Monday Jun 13, 2022
The Platinum Jubilee may be a distant memory for most but that doesn't stop us from recounting our 'Platy Jubes' experiences before James takes us on a deep dive into Disney Plus's Obi-Wan Kenobi, not to mention a final take on the hidden gem that is Outer Range. Dan, resorts to revisiting his youth with Cape Wrath aka Meadowlands and then give a preliminary review on The Boys Season 3.
Reel News ignores any concerns around Tom Cruise's problematic religious beliefs and instead focuses in on the box office behemoth that is Top Gun: Maverick alongside signposting some valuable Reality TV resources
For our final review, we deliver you a timely review of a film you will most likely struggle to see, its Everything, Everywhere all at once. It may not be instantly available but dont let that dampen your cinematic appetite, it may well be worth the wait...
Monday May 23, 2022
Episode 98 - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Monday May 23, 2022
Monday May 23, 2022
As the world lurches from one crisis to another, content is now more important than ever. James steamrolls through The Lincoln Lawyer, The Essex Serpent, Conversations with Friends and Chivalry. Dan reviews Shining Girls and Outer Range.
Plus, a vintage review of Road to Perdition reveals one of the most shocking Glow Ups of all time, and Guess That Film makes a welcome return.
$700 million can't be wrong, the MCU is still alive. But can Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness pull this podcast out of its superhero fatigue?
Wednesday May 11, 2022
Episode 97 - The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Wednesday May 11, 2022
Wednesday May 11, 2022
This episode arrives to you later than expected courtesy of an idiotic admin error... Regardless, its still brimming with predictable content such as the obligatory watchlist that consists of a half naked Alexander Skarsgard in The Northman, Netflix Anime Bubble and further streaming choices sure to dampen any party-like atmosphere. Namely, HBO's The Staircase and the final season of Ozark .
In Reel News we cover off a range of topics that the world has swiftly moved on from, including the 'soon to be made in to a film' Amber Heard & Johnny Depp Trial, a disruptive turn of events in the latest entry into the Fast and Furious franchise and a ringing endorsement that Cinemas are not yet dead.
It would appear that talent is just about everywhere you look. This podcast is testament to that... But will these two podcasts hosts buckle under The Weight of Unbearable Talent. Nicholas Cage's latest leading man entry features as this weeks main review.