Mercy: The Algorithm Wants Your Lunch Money

February 10, 2026

Chris Pratt wakes up strapped into a futuristic courtroom chair with 90 minutes to live and an AI judge who looks like Rebecca Ferguson, so naturally the movie turns into Minority Report: Touchpad Edition. Pete Wright, Andy Nelson, Tommy Metz III, and Steve Sarmento argue whether Mercy is a cautionary tale about surveillance and AI… or just a very shiny roller coaster that keeps finding new ways to trip over its own shoelaces.

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The Film Board

Mercy: The Algorithm Wants Your Lunch Money

February 10, 2026

Chris Pratt wakes up strapped into a futuristic courtroom chair with 90 minutes to live and an AI judge who looks like Rebecca Ferguson, so naturally the movie turns into Minority Report: Touchpad Edition. Pete Wright, Andy Nelson, Tommy Metz III, and Steve Sarmento argue whether Mercy is a cautionary tale about surveillance and AI… or just a very shiny roller coaster that keeps finding new ways to trip over its own shoelaces.

Listen Now »

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

December 16, 2025

A knife in a locked church and a mystery that insists certainty is the real sin. The Film Board takes on Wake Up, Dead Man, where Rian Johnson strips the joy out of the whodunit—and somehow makes it hit harder.

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The Running Man • The Film Board • Season 14 Episode 4

The Running Man

November 18, 2025

Stephen King’s dystopian manhunt gets a 2025 upgrade, as the Film Board tracks Glenn Powell through Edgar Wright’s The Running Man—where entertainment kills and revolution streams live.

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Our Regular Hosts

Pete Wright

Portland, OR
Pete Wright is a veteran broadcaster and media consultant with a 30-year career spanning journalism, brand storytelling, and podcasting. He is a co-founder of TruStory FM, where he hosts and produces podcasts that blend education, entertainment, and human-centered communication.

Steve Sarmento

Phoenix, AZ
Steve Sarmento is an educator, writer, and film buff in Phoenix, Arizona. He’s been a part of the fabric of The Next Reel Film Podcasts since its inception. He has served to educate and illuminate through his regular participation in The Film Board and the two podcasts he developed and hosted, Trailer Rewind and Three of a Kind.

Tommy Metz III

Los Angeles, CA
Tommy Metz III—filmmaker, festival favorite, and proud recipient of “Most Handsome Son” (per his mom)—has directed award-winning shorts, a horror standout (Static), and the feature film 30 NIGHTS. He’s also spent 20+ years mentoring young writers through Young Storytellers. He lives in Sherman Oaks with his four-legged co-star, Foster, who may or may not have beef with skateboards.

Justin Jaeger

Portland, OR
Justin “JJ” Jaeger is a recovering news reporter turned podcaster, performer, and professional deep-convo enthusiast. A fixture on TruStory.fm shows like The Film Board, Trailer Rewind, and Marvel Movie Minute, he now mixes book reviews on his YouTube channel Jayge’s Pages with the occasional mic-drop at Portland karaoke bars.

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