Steve Sarmento

This month JJ and Steve learn a lesson in obedience with 2015’s Experimenter. Peter Sarsgaard takes us through the career of Stanley Milgram, who is best known for his obedience experiments that asked people to administer increasingly painful shocks to a stranger in another room. Milgram learned that people will be obedient to an authority figure. So download this episode and push play.

This month, JJ and Steve are off into the deep bush country of New Zealand to track down one of Andy’s trailer picks from last year. What they find is an unexpected treasure full of beautiful camera work, lovable characters, and a variety of unexpected film references. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is one of those rare four-quadrant films that appeal to everyone. There are action and adventure, fish-out-of-water comedy, and a great relationship story between a wanna-be gangster teen and a crotchety backcountry hunter. So gather your friends and family together to watch this overlooked gem.

This month, Steve digs through the archives to revisit The History of Future Folk, a quirky indie that punches well above its weight. Yes, it’s a musical comedy about banjo-playing aliens. Yes, it’s the fictional backstory of a comic duo you’ve likely never heard of. But in all the indsiderness of Future Folk, there’s a delightful amount of heart that is so much more gratifying because my expectations were low going into it. Most gratifying? After re-watching the film, it just gets better.

We’re keeping with The Next Reel 2017 theme of “Let’s Scare JJ.” Prisoners tortured in secret underground tunnels! A power-crazed cult leader! But even more frightening – it really happened! This month we rewind to Chile in 1973 for Colonia, starring Emma Watson, Daniel Bruhl, and Michael Nyqvist for a film based on true events at Colonia Dignidad. 

In a world where being a couple is a legal requirement, one man dares to be alone. This Valentine’s Day, grab a loved one and learn why Colin Farrell is The Lobster.