Changing Reels

Episode 36 - Antwone Fisher

We celebrate Black History Month with the 2002 film Antwone Fisher directed by Denzel Washington. The film tells the true story of a young naval officer who, through the help of a determined psychiatrist, comes to terms with his painful past. For our short film spotlight, we discuss Speak It!: From the Heart of Black Nova Scotia by Sylvia Hamilton. 2:11 Speak It 17:03 Antwone Fisher

Episode 35 - Straight Outta Compton

This week we revisit F. Gary Gray’s 2015 film Straight Outta Compton. The film recounts the rise of the group N.W.A. whose music revolutionized Hip Hop culture and inspired a generation in the process. For our short film spotlight, we discuss Melville by James M. Johnston and Missy Elliott’s Work It by David Meyers. 9:55 Melville 19:36 Work It 34:17 Straight Outta Compton

Episode 34 - Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

We kick off 2018 with Jim Jarmusch’s 1999 film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. In the film Forest Whitaker plays Ghost Dog, a mafia hit man who follows the ancient code of the samurai. For our short film spotlight, we discuss the Nick Cave narrated film The Cat Piano by Ari Gibson ​&​ Eddie White and Junko’s Shamisen by Sol Friedman. 4:47 The Cat Piano by Ari Gibson ​&​ Eddie White 13:19 Junko's Shamisen by Sol Friedman 21:06 Ghost Dog by Jim Jarmusch Opening music comes courtesy of https://www.bensound.com

Episode 33 - Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner

We are keeping things loose this episode as we are still recovering from the holidays and dealing with family related issues. So while there is no short film discussion this week, special guest Seth Gorden, the talent to artist who does all of our artwork, joins us to discuss Zacharias Kunuk’s stirring epic Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner. Hailed as one of the greatest Canadian films of all time, and inspired by an Inuit legend, the film is a captivating look at how community, mysticism and the sins of the past impact a family in unexpected ways​.​ After some introductions and general cinematic musing, the conversation about The Fast Runner starts at 7:52.

Episode 32 - Hush

We are joined once again by film critic Kristen Lopez ​to further discuss​​the representation of disability in cinema. This time we dive into the horror genre with Mike Flanagan’s 2016 thriller Hush. The film focuses on a writer who is deaf whose solitary life in the woods is disrupted by a masked killer. We also take a moment to ​highlight our two short film picks (available online for free): Rob Savage’s Dawn of the Deaf and Charlotte Wells’ Laps. 6:59 Dawn of the Deaf 21:11 Laps 35:28 Hush

Episode 31 - Saved!

Film critic Kristen Lopez returns to Changing Reels for the first of two shows looking at the representation of disabilities in cinema. This episode we revisit Brian Dannelly’s 2004 satire Saved! The film follows Mary, a student at American Eagle Christian High School, whose life takes a drastic turn when she becomes pregnant after losing her virginity in hopes of “saving” her boyfriend who has recently admitted he is gay. We also take a moment to dive into our two short film picks (available online for free): Cousin by Adam Elliot and Hole by Martin Edralin. 5:33 Cousin 16:57 Hole 27:46 Saved!

Episode 30 - Train to Busan

A neglectful father attempts to reconnect with his young daughter by accompanying her on a train ride to see his ex-wife. What starts off as a simple journey soon turns into a harrowing fight for survival as a zombie virus rapidly spreads across South Korea. This week film critic and Blood in the Snow Film Festival programmer Caroyln Mauricette joins us to discuss Yeon Sang-ho’s Train to Busan, one of the best zombie films in the last decade. We also take time to highlight our short film picks: Waterborne by Ryan Coonan and Paranoia by Sandeepan Chanda, Nitesh Mishra, Amrita Mukhopadhyay, and Sunil Kumar Yadav. 3:28 Waterborne 9:17 Paranoia 19:00 Train to Busan

Episode 29 - Under the Shadow

Living in post-revolutionary Tehran in the 1980s has not been easy for Shideh. With her dreams of becoming a doctor fading away due to her political activism during the war, she spends most of her time taking care of her daughter Dorsa while her husband pursues his medical career on the front lines. As the dangers of missile strike inch closer to her home, Shideh’s sanity is tested when Dorsa starts claiming that there is a spirit lurking in their home. This week we turn up the chills with Babak Anvari’s riveting directorial debut Under the Shadow. We also discuss our short film picks of the week: Paul Trillo’s At the End of the Cul-de-Sac and Steve McCarthy O Negative. 4:40 - At the End of the Cul De Sac 15:14 - O Negative 23:59 - Under the Shadow Please support Andrew's work on the podcast by contributing to his Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/cantstopthemovies

Episode 28 - Creed

Ryan Coogler’s Creed, much like its protagonist Adonis Johnson Creed, strives to carve out its own path while dealing with the weight of his legacy. The seventh film in the Rocky franchise, not only pays homage to the films in the series that came before it, but forges its own identity while carrying the torch for a whole new generation. In this episode, we are joined by film critic Ryan McNeil to discuss why Creed ranks amongst the best boxing films in the last couple of decades. We also take time to highlight our short film picks: Quand J’ai Remplacé Camille by Nathan Otaño, Rémy Clarke & Leïla Courtillon and Standing 8 by Michael Molina Minard. 5:51 When She Replaced Camille 14:18 Standing 8 25:58 Creed

Episode 27 - Whip It

In Bliss Cavendar’s small town, winning a beauty pageant is akin to being a star player on the football team. Though her mother, a former beauty queen, longs for her to follow in her footsteps, Bliss finds her own path when she discovers her love for the sport of roller derby. Assuming the name “Babe Ruthless” she soon makes waves on the circuit while dealing with the complexities that come with finding oneself. This week lace up the skates and take a spin with Drew Barrymore’s 2009 film Whip It. We also discuss our short film picks: Hana Wuerker’s When Perri Met Aly and River Finlay’s Luchadora. 4:51 When Perri Met Aly 11:25 Luchadora 18:42 Whip It