Burnt
To start off a new year of Trailer Rewind Steve and JJ sit down for a meal with John Wells’ 2015 film Burnt. This was Pete’s pick because he just loves films set in restaurant kitchens almost as much as he loves zombie films. If only there were a film that combined those two genres!
Faults
It’s the last Trailer Rewind of 2017, and this time it’s personal. When they decided to watch Andy’s trailer pick from our Syriana episode on February 20, 2015, Steve and JJ had no idea of the impact it would have on them. Writer/director Riley Stearns has crafted a dark tale exploring loss, free will, and the decisions people make that give others power over them. This film checks all the boxes of a small independent film: character-driven story, few locations, and an important message to share. Faults is one of those rare exceptions that has found the perfect cast.
Miss Sloane
This month JJ and Steve are tasked with keeping up with Miss Sloane. This drastically overlooked film from December 2016 is based on a stellar script from first-time writer Jonathan Perera and directed by John Madden. This isn’t a political drama, it’s not a thriller, but there is a big question to be answered that drives this story. Find out why fans of Michael Clayton and Erin Brockovich will likely enjoy this hidden gem.
Little Sister
This month JJ and Steve are dealing with family drama in Zach Clark’s 2016 film Little Sister. With a mix of nuns, GWAR, drug-laced muffins, and parenting failures this film proudly displays its independent film badge, offering no clear, clean answers to many of the questions it raises.
Experimenter
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.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
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.
The History of Future Folk
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.
Colonia
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.
The Lobster
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.
The Two Faces of January
It’s back to 2014 again for JJ and Steve as they dig into The Two Faces of January, Andy’s pick from February 2014. Adapted from the novel by Patricia Highsmith, this thriller set in the early 60’s looks and sounds like a classic Hitchcock film.