In the Playlist debut of "Be Reel," genre-hopping podcast hosts Chance Solem-Pfeifer and Noah Ballard dive into the career of screenwriting titan William Goldman, who passed away last month at age 87. 

They revisit his major works like “The Princess Bride,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “All The President’s Men,” and Slate’s Marissa Martinelli joins the program to discuss the far deeper world of Goldman’s “The Princess Bride” novel.

Be Reel: The Essential Films of William Goldman

On a new BE REEL, Chance and Noah try to make sense of M. Night Shyamalan's Eastrail 177 trilogy beginning with 2000's "Unbreakable," picking up steam with 2017's "Split," and culminating in the new ostensibly thoughtful comic-book riff "Glass." 

Spoilers abound, obviously. And Guardian contributor Zach Vasquez joins the show to discuss his new essay: "Shattered Glass: why we need to stop deconstructing our superheroes."

Be Reel: M. Night Shyamalan's Cinematic Universe (feat. Zach Vasquez)

While the future of Marvel Netflix's The Punisher remains to be seen, that hasn't stopped showrunner Steve Lightfoot from staying optimistic about continuing the journey of Frank Castle.  Lightfoot is currently the showrunner of The Punisher, which is now entering its second season, and also has made notable contributions as a writer and producer on NBC's Hannibal and Netflix's Narcos. 

I recently spoke with Lightfoot about Season 2 of The Punisher in which he gave some insight into the direction the team would want to take Frank next season and when asked if a Season 3 was happening Lightfoot said the following, "I'd love to do it. I'll do this show as long as people ask me to. Beyond that, I don't know."

The Punisher Season 2 finds Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) on a journey of self-discovery as he comes to terms with taking on the mantle of The Punisher while cleaning up the aftermath his actions caused in Season 1. After saving a girl (Giorgia Whigham) who’s being hunted down by a religious assassin, Frank transitions from being a man haunted by grief, hell-bent on revenge, to a vigilante with a code.

During our conversation, we not only discussed the possibility of a third season, but Frank's transformation as a character, Lightfoot's inspiration for some of his favorite action set pieces, and which villains he'd like to integrate into the show next to which the showrunner responded, "I’ve always loved Barracuda. I’d love to find a place to play with that character because I think he’s just a force of nature and funny. Just simply, because I’m such a fan of the actor, it’d be great to tangle with the Kingpin…the idea of pitting Jon against Vincent D’Onofrio for a season would wildly excite me."

Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin vs. Bernthal's Punisher? Here's hoping Marvel and Netflix keep The Punisher alive for the possibility of showdown alone.

Steve Lightfoot wants The Punisher to Tango with Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin and Barracuda

The best way to avoid Gene Hackman screaming at you is to listen to Chance Solem-Pfeifer and Noah Ballard celebrate the all-time great actor's 89th birthday on a new Be Reel. This week, they analyze three of his most memorable antagonists in "Superman: The Movie" (1978), "Unforgiven" (1992) and "The Firm" (1993), and then spotlight some favorites from deeper in Hackman's 50-year career.

Be Reel is part of The Playlist Podcast Network and is brought to you by California College of the Arts and Converse College's Low-Residency MFA.

Be Reel: The Best Gene Hackman Villains

Joe and Erik discuss two new movies that show the dexterity of modern horror in Piercing and Velvet Buzzsaw.

Adjust Your Tracking

AYT #197

AYT #197: Velvet Buzzsaw / Piercing

Joe and Erik champion two small releases hit this week: Birds of Passage and Donnybrook.

AYT #198

AYT #198: Donnybrook / Birds Of Passage

Though the Columbian crime epic “Birds of Passage” finds its shape in familiar gangster arcs, its approach to depicting the South American drug trade is one of lyricism and embedded observation of the indigenous Wayuu people. Listen as our Chance Solem-Pfeifer speaks to co-director Cristina Gallego about her latest film with creative partner Ciro Guerra, following on from the Oscar-nominated “Embrace of the Serpent.”

Director Interview: Cristina Gallego on 'Birds of Passage'

indie beat

Indie Beat - Iman Zawahry

Erik and Joe discuss Gaspar Noe's latest, Climax.

AYT #199

AYT #199: Climax

The rich are monsters, and Noah and Chance are watching three movies based on the scandalous French novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses." Don't know it? That's fine. You might know "Cruel Intentions," the now-20-year-old teen movie it inspired, as well as the 1988 Oscar contender "Dangerous Liaisons," starring Glenn Close and John Malkovich. We watched a less-known third adaptation called "Valmont" too, and we're psyched to have film critic Abbey Bender back on the program to once again discuss "teens" behaving badly in erotic thrillers. 

"Be Reel" is brought to you by the California College of the Arts' Writing MFA program.

When Liaisons Get Dangerous (feat. Abbey Bender) | Ep. 119

Treading water on television is a good way to not be on television, as we learn from this week's movies about TV institutions getting new life through new blood. In the new office comedy "Late Night," Mindy Kaling shakes up a white, apolitical comedy show, just as Rachel McAdams saves a GMA knock-off in "Morning Glory" and Christina Applegate rocks an absurdist boys club in "Anchorman." Change is good, these movies tell us, but do they apply the same lessons to themselves? Let's watch.

The Show Must Not Go On Like This | Ep. 128

Home to The Playlist Podcast Network and all its affiliated shows, including Adjust Your Tracking (AYT), The Playlist Podcast, Be Reel, Indiebeat and more. The Playlist is the obsessive's guide to contemporary cinema via film discussion, news, reviews, features, nostalgia, and more.

Be Reel: The Essential Films of William Goldman

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